President John Dramani Mahama has directed that the purchase of rice for schools across the country be centralised through the Ghana Buffer Stock Company Limited to ensure that locally produced rice is consistently supplied to educational institutions.
The directive comes after reports that several schools are still procuring imported rice for feeding programmes despite an earlier government policy encouraging institutions to prioritize locally produced food.
Move to Strengthen Local Agriculture
In a communication to the Ministry of Education, the President expressed concern that the continued use of imported rice undermines government efforts to promote domestic agricultural production and support Ghanaian farmers.
According to the Presidency, sourcing rice locally will help expand market opportunities for Ghanaian rice producers, strengthen the local agricultural sector, and ensure that more value from food procurement remains within the national economy.
Buffer Stock to Handle Procurement
Under the new arrangement, Ghana Buffer Stock Company Limited will be responsible for the procurement, aggregation, and supply of locally produced rice to schools nationwide.
The centralized system is expected to improve coordination, stabilize supply, and ensure that schools consistently receive rice sourced from Ghanaian producers.
Education Ministry to Coordinate Implementation
The Ministry of Education has been tasked to work closely with the Ghana Education Service and the Buffer Stock Company to implement the directive.
This will include putting in place distribution and coordination mechanisms to ensure the timely delivery of rice to schools across the country.
Part of Broader Food Security Strategy
The initiative forms part of the government’s wider strategy to boost domestic agriculture, reduce reliance on imported food commodities, and promote local value chains.
Officials say the move will also contribute to strengthening food security while providing a reliable market for local rice farmers.
The Office of the President has instructed the Ministry of Education to treat the directive as urgent and keep the Presidency informed about the implementation arrangements being put in place.