President Nana Akufo-Addo has for the second time called on Ghanaians to patronize locally produced rice to help the country attain self-sufficiency in rice production.
In a media encounter at the Jubilee House on Friday, President Akufo-Addo expressed satisfaction with the recent increase in rice production.
“At least for the first time in many years, we have excess rice and for me, that’s an important development…All of us need to get involved in the drive towards self-sufficiency. We should all eat Ghanaian rice. Each one of us in our homes should make a conscious effort to tell our wives and cousins, relatives responsible for our well-being to buy Ghana rice. It is happening in my house and it must happen here,” he said.
Follow my example, eat local rice – Nana Addo to Ghanaians
President Akufo-Addo used his speech at the 35th National Farmers’ Day celebration to continue advocacy for the local rice industry.
He urged Ghanaians to support local farmers by consuming their produce in a bid to boost self-sufficiency.
“The success of government’s efforts in ensuring self-sufficiency in rice production depends largely on the level of consumption of local rice. We must eat what we grow to motivate our farmers and support the development of the local food industry.”
“Rebecca, my beautiful wife; our First Lady, insists that we eat local rice at home and has made sure of this. I call on all Ghanaians to follow my example and eat local rice.”
As part of the government’s moves to support local rice production, President Akufo-Addo said the state was imported milling materials from China and Brazil.
The materials are expected to arrive in Ghana in the middle of 2020 to provide “appreciable relieve to farmers and boost the grain industry.”
The President also said his administration will continue “to prioritize and support agriculture to make the sector one of the most viable driving forces of Ghana’s economic development and transformation.”
The advocacy for the consumption of local rice was started by the Chief Executive Officer of Citi FM/Citi TV, Samuel Attah-Mensah in November 2019.
He subsequently declared himself as an ambassador to advocate for Ghanaians to consume local rice.