Mar 9, 2026
President John Dramani Mahama has directed that the procurement of rice for schools across the country be centralised to ensure the consistent purchase and distribution of locally produced rice.
Political leadership insights
The directive follows reports that several schools continue to procure imported rice for feeding programmes, contrary to an earlier government policy encouraging institutions to source food items locally.
In a communication addressed to the Ministry of Education, the President expressed concern that the continued purchase of imported rice undermines government efforts to strengthen local agricultural production, support Ghanaian rice farmers, and retain economic value within the country.
To address the situation, the President has ordered the immediate reallocation and centralisation of rice procurement for schools.
Under the new arrangement, the Ghana Buffer Stock Company Limited will be responsible for the procurement, aggregation, and supply of locally produced rice to schools nationwide.
The Ministry of Education has been tasked to collaborate with the Ghana Education Service and the Buffer Stock Company to ensure the effective implementation of the directive, including establishing coordination and distribution mechanisms to facilitate the timely supply of local rice.
The measure forms part of the government’s broader efforts to support domestic agriculture, improve market access for Ghanaian rice farmers, reduce reliance on imported food commodities, and promote local value chains.
The Office of the President has asked the Ministry of Education to treat the matter as urgent and keep it informed of the implementation arrangements put in place.
Mar 9, 2026
The Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboah, has called for stronger state institutions to enable them to deliver on their mandates effectively.
He made the call when the CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), George Abradu-Otoo, paid a courtesy call on him at the Regional Coordinating Council in Sunyani.
Mr Akwaboah described NAFCO as a strategic state institution that must be adequately resourced to perform its role in stabilising food supply and supporting the country’s food security agenda.
He commended the company for its efforts in addressing grain glut challenges in several parts of the country.
The NAFCO CEO was in the Bono Region as part of a nationwide working tour of senior high schools and agricultural facilities to assess food supply conditions.
As part of the visit, Mr Abradu-Otoo toured Sunyani Senior High School, where he met the Headmaster, Gordon Osei Marfo, to discuss food supply for students.
Mr Marfo, who also serves as the National Treasurer of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), called for a revised national menu to guide feeding in senior high schools.
He said the school currently has enough food in stock to cater for its student population of about 4,400.
“We have so much food in stock; now we even compel the students to go for dining,” he said.
The Rector of the seminary, Rev. Fr. Felix Taah, similarly assured the delegation that the school has adequate food supplies to feed its students.
Mr Abradu-Otoo said NAFCO will continue to strengthen engagement with key stakeholders to ensure the smooth implementation of the Free Senior High School policy.
The visit to Bono forms part of a broader tour by the NAFCO CEO, who has already visited the Eastern, Ashanti, Bono East and Bono regions.
Feb 11, 2026
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), George Abradu-Otoo, has disclosed that 14 companies have so far been licensed to supply food commodities under the company’s current procurement framework.
The licensed firms are authorised to procure food directly from farming communities and deliver the commodities to NAFCO warehouses across the country.
“So far, we’ve licensed about 14 companies. They have their agents. Once you are licensed, you can go to places like Asutsuare to buy rice, deliver it to our warehouse and provide proof,” Mr Abradu-Otoo said in an interview on Face to Face on Channel One TV on Tuesday, 3 February.
He explained that all commodities supplied by the licensed companies are received and verified at NAFCO warehouses by designated officials, including storekeepers and regional managers, before being accepted into storage.
Mr Abradu-Otoo said pricing is determined by a Price Determination Committee made up of representatives from key stakeholder institutions, including the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Peasant Farmers Association, the Rice Millers Association and NAFCO.
According to him, the committee relies on research and market data gathered across the country to agree on prices. Once agreed, the proposed prices are submitted to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) for review and approval.
“They give the final authority, and based on that, we announce the prices and proceed,” he said.
Mr Abradu-Otoo stressed that the process is designed to ensure transparency, accountability and strict compliance with procurement regulations, adding that NAFCO’s immediate focus is on managing excess food supply.
“Our main concern right now is the glut,” he stated.
https://www.myjoyonline.com/nafco-licenses-14-companies-to-supply-food-commodities-ceo/
source:myjoyonlinenews
Feb 5, 2026
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), George Abradu-Otoo, has pledged to ensure his administration does not repeat alleged actions committed under his predecessor, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, who is currently facing trial.
Speaking to Umaru Sanda Amadu on Face to Face on Channel One TV on Tuesday, February 3, Mr Abradu-Otoo accused the former CEO of running a “one-man show” during his tenure at the state institution.
Asked whether he fears prosecution when he leaves office, Mr Abradu-Otoo said he has no such concerns, insisting that his leadership approach is fundamentally different.
“No, because I’m not going to do any of the things that happened under him,” he stated.
He revealed that he has embarked on a restructuring process at NAFCO, which he said is already yielding positive results.
“I have started doing a lot of restructuring, and so far it’s working tremendously. Some of the departments were non-functional. There was no functional audit department, no procurement department, food safety wasn’t working. It was a sort of one-man show, and that is what I’m running away from. I don’t like a one-man show,” he said.
When asked whether the charges against Abdul-Wahab relate to the issues he has identified, Mr Abradu-Otoo replied in the affirmative.
He also cited his previous tenure as CEO of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) as evidence of his leadership style, noting that it did not attract public criticism.
“I was the CEO, nobody heard about me. I was never called to explain one thing I did, even after we went into opposition for eight years,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General has filed multiple criminal charges against former NAFCO CEO Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, his wife Faiza Seidu Wuni, and three others over the alleged theft and laundering of more than ₵78 million in public funds.
The accused, including the Aludiba Foundation, Energy Partners Limited, and Richard Sam-Asante (currently at large), face 24 counts ranging from stealing and money laundering to fraudulently causing financial loss to the Republic, using public office for profit, and intentional dissipation of public funds.
The case, filed at the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra, alleges the offences occurred between February 2017 and February 2025 during Mr Abdul-Wahab’s tenure as NAFCO CEO.
Source : ChannelOneTv
Feb 3, 2026
On Thursday 28th January 2026, our Board Chairman, Dr. Eric Osei Owusu led a company team to the 2026 Performance Contract Negotiations with the State Interest and Governance Authority ( SIGA).
Buffer Stock’s operational performance for the year under review was highly commended.
