Ghanaian agriculture faces seed dependency and market flooding

During stakeholder policy consultations in Accra, NPP presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia addressed critical vulnerabilities in Ghana’s agricultural sector. The National Seed Trade Association of Ghana (NASTAG) reported that approximately 90% of certified vegetable seeds used by local farmers are currently imported, a dependency that poses a significant threat to national food security.

NASTAG also highlighted a crisis involving the large-scale importation of commodities such as maize, rice, and soybeans. These imports have flooded local markets, leaving Ghanaian farmers unable to sell their harvests even after reducing prices. Additional concerns raised by the association include regulatory gaps in the National Seed Policy, infrastructure shortfalls, and alleged interference by politically connected traders in public seed procurement.

Dr. Bawumia described the inability of farmers to sell their produce as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘deeply troubling.’ He pledged to implement reforms aimed at protecting local farmers, ensuring food sovereignty, and investing in agricultural research to transform the sector.