President John Dramani Mahama has instructed that rice supplied in schools across the country should be procured through the Ghana Buffer Stock Company Limited as part of efforts to promote the use of locally produced rice in school feeding.

According to a report by citinewsroom.com, the directive was contained in a communication to the Ministry of Education on March 5, 2026.

The president expressed worry that reliance on imported rice undermines efforts to strengthen domestic agriculture, support Ghanaian rice farmers, and retain economic value within the country.

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"Under the new arrangement, the Ghana Buffer Stock Company Limited will be responsible for the procurement, aggregation, and supply of locally produced rice to schools nationwide.

"The Ministry of Education has been tasked to collaborate with the Ghana Education Service and the Buffer Stock Company to ensure the effective implementation of the directive, including establishing coordination and distribution mechanisms to facilitate the timely supply of local rice," the report noted.

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The Office of the President entreated the Education Ministry to treat the directive as urgent and provide regular updates on implementation arrangements.

"The Office of the President has asked the Ministry of Education to treat the matter as urgent and keep it informed of the implementation arrangements put in place," the report added.

JKB/BAI

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