Controversy Over Rice Import Bill

There is uncertainty as to the exact amount of money spent on the importation of rice into Ghana.

Available figures from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) reveal that while the estimated national rice consumption stands at 561,400 metric tons per year, rice produced locally is 107,900 metric tons leaving a gap of 453,500 metric tons, which have to be imported.

While Hon. Inusah Fuseini, MP for Tamale Central, puts the import bill at a staggering $ 600 million annually, Hon Joe Baidoe Ansah, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, argues that the precise amount cannot be known because it is the private sector and not government which imports the commodity.

"Don't forget that Hon. Fuseini says he hears about $600 million is spent on rice imports. He was not certain of the figure; nobody can give the exact amount," he told the Public Agenda in an interview last Wednesday in Parliament.

The immediate past Minister for MoFA, Hon. Ernest Debrah, who was magnanimous in providing me with some of the statistics unfortunately did not have a ready figure for the rice import bill. "I could check and make it available to you later."

The debate over rice imports rekindled the need to revamp thhe Aveyime Rice Project. In his first State of the Nation Address, President John Evans Atta-Mills disclosed that "the Aveyime Rice Project will be restored to boost rice production for internal consumption and for export. Indeed large scale food production ventures will be initiated in all the regions."

While Hon. Fuseini and Hon. James Klutse Avedzi, MP for Ketu North, espoused the President's proposed measure to increase rice production, Hon. Nana Akomea, MP for Okaikoi South, on the other described the announcement as anachronistic. He insists, "The Aveyime Rice Project is up and running and I challenge those who are in doubt to visit the place to ascertain the situation."

Hon. Debrah corroborated Hon. Akomea's assertion and pointed out that 750 acres of land at the project site have been prepared and recently planting of rice on monthly basis has been taking place.

But Hon. Avedzi rebuffs the claim. "No production of rice is taking place at Aveyime. What is happening is that it is only the milling machines which are working and occasionally rice are brought to be milled".

In a separate interview, Hon. David Tetteh Assumeng, MP for Shai Osodoku, a constituency in a rice producing area, was hopeful about future rice production, provided there would be ready market and current facilities improved.

"Given the needed the boost like subsidizing fertilizer, weedicides and insecticides, and with the adequate drying floors and good milling machines to extract stones, our farmers could produce well-processed rice that could meet the demand of the population and thus reduce our dependency drastically," he expatiates.

He added that, Ghana's rice, according to studies, is more nutritious, and by directing institutions such as the prisons, boarding schools, the School Feeding Programme to patronize local rice a ready market could be created.