Local rice farmers who are expecting a ready market for their produce are instead facing uncertainties as allegations emerge that contractors are importing rice under government-backed programmes.

Speaking at the Kwahu Business Forum on Friday, April 3, 2026, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, painted a troubling picture of farmers struggling to sell their harvests while imported rice continues to dominate supply.

At the centre of the issue is the Ghana School Feeding Programme, which was designed to provide a steady market for locally-produced food.

However, according to Afenyo-Markin, contractors responsible for supplying rice are turning away from Ghanaian farmers and opting for cheaper imports instead.

“Contractors engaged to supply the School Feeding Programme with locally-produced rice are bypassing farmers who had prepared their produce following a direct presidential directive,” he stated.

He said the impact on farmers has been severe, with many left holding unsold produce after investing heavily to meet expected demands.

The situation, he warned, is pushing some into debt while others face post-harvest losses.

The Minority Leader also raised concerns about transparency at the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), noting that calls to make public the list of contractors involved have gone unanswered.

“The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana has repeatedly requested that NAFCO publish the names of those contractors. NAFCO has not responded. What has been described is not a market failure. It is a procurement betrayal,” he said

He indicated that the Minority Caucus is preparing to push for a parliamentary inquiry to uncover details of the contracts and identify those benefiting from the procurement process.

Beyond the politics, Afenyo-Markin warned that the situation risks breaking trust between the state and rural farming communities, whose livelihoods depend on such programmes.

“Let us choose accountability over secrecy,” he concluded, urging the government to ensure its policies truly support local producers and strengthen Ghana’s path toward food self-sufficiency.

NA/AE