Ghana to fund grain silos in 2027 budget to manage maize surplus

Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, announced that the 2027 budget will include allocations for constructing grain silos to improve storage capacity. This move follows a significant maize surplus, with the country producing 4.6 million tonnes last year against a national demand of 3.6 million tonnes.

Mr. Opoku urged the Ghana Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to expand its infrastructure to manage growing cereal production. Strengthening NAFCO’s ability to absorb excess production is intended to provide a reliable market for farmers and prevent losses due to overproduction. Currently, NAFCO holds 20,443 tonnes of grain as part of efforts to rebuild strategic food reserves.

Additionally, the government has directed NAFCO to release 50,000 bags of grain to settle an outstanding obligation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This debt stems from 2018, when Ghana borrowed grain from ECOWAS to support its School Feeding Programme.