Mar 9, 2026
Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, has stressed the critical importance of policy-driven food security for Ghana, warning that any compromise in this area could destabilise the country’s peace and safety.
The Minister made the remarks during a courtesy call from the Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), George Abradu-Otoo, at his office in Kumasi on Tuesday.
Mr Abradu-Otoo is this week touring selected senior high schools, warehouses, and other agricultural facilities across the Eastern, Ashanti, Bono, and Bono East regions to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen food security initiatives.
Dr Amoakohene commended Buffer Stock’s lead role in the ongoing National Food Reserve program but noted that more needed to be done to secure the country’s food supply.
“I am aware of the food reserve program, and I commend you for that, but a lot more of our local farmers, especially rice farmers and millers, are still crying for help.
“We will need to step up a bit. Let’s consider processing, hygiene, and safety. If we are not food secure, it can jeopardise our peace and stability,” he said.
In response, Mr Abradu-Otoo assured that several steps are underway to safeguard the country’s food supply, including engaging the government and external donors for additional funding, scaling up grain purchases, and expanding and rehabilitating storage facilities.
During his visit, the NAFCO CEO toured Prempeh College, where he was received by the Headmaster, Very Rev. Lewis Asare.
The school, which serves 4,256 students, confirmed that it has adequate food stocks, crediting Buffer Stock for the support.
“The challenge had been how to get them food, but now we have them in abundance. I do not worry at all,” the Headmaster noted.
Mr Abradu-Otoo also inspected the company’s warehouse at Duase, which stores grains for the National Food Reserve, as well as silos and warehouses of the defunct Ghana Food Distribution Corporation in Sekyedumase and Ejura.
At Ejura, he met with chiefs and elders to discuss plans for revamping the Ejura Farms facilities, part of NAFCO’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s food security infrastructure.
Mar 9, 2026
Government is making efforts to rehabilitate and increase the number of storage facilities in the country to prevent post-harvest losses and to help farmers make a profit from the sale of their produce.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company ( NAFCO),George Abradu-Otoo, who announced this during inspection of food situation in Senior High Schools and warehouses in Ashanti region, said they have put in place measures to get more storage facilities.
Mr Abradu_ Otoo is touring selected senior high schools,warehouses, and other agricultural facilities Across Ashanti ,Eastern ,Bono East and Bone Regions to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen Food security initiatives.
Farmers in the Ashanti are known for the cultivation of grains including rice, fruits and vegetables. However, post-harvest losses due to inadequate storage facilities, farmers to sell their products cheaply at the farm gate.
The Chief Executive Officer of National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), George Abradu- Otoo, said they have plans of designating some of their warehouses as storage point or depot for suppliers.
He said the facilities would protect Ghanaian farmers and also boost production for potential export.
“We do not expect farmers to carry their produce to the major cities in search of market, the licence buying companies will come to the farm gates to buy their produce. So this will be an encouragement to farmers to produce without distress over where to get market. The most important thing is that we protect the Ghanaian farmer, they must not be cheated. They will partake in discussions on how to arrive at a minimum guaranteed price for various commodities,” he explained.
He said it has enough supplies for schools, but it is working to increase the stock levels.
Our problem currently is the storage facilities for the schools.
He said contrary to suggestions, the company is making impressive strides to store more food for later distribution to schools.
We have enough to sustain us, and we are working very hard to increase our stock levels. I don’t see the challenge being as a result of lack of food.
He visited Prempeh College and some warehouses at Duase, Ejura and other places.
Mar 9, 2026
The CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), George Abradu-Otoo, has called for strict action against individuals caught stealing food commodities supplied to schools under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.
According to him, the pilfering of food meant for students undermines the policy’s objectives and must be stopped.
The programme has recorded cases of theft involving food items supplied to schools for student feeding, with some incidents reportedly involving non-teaching staff in senior high, technical and vocational institutions in parts of the country.
Speaking during a working visit to Wenchi Methodist Senior High School in the Bono Region, Mr Abradu-Otoo warned that anyone caught engaging in such acts would face severe consequences.
“The stealing and pilfering must stop. School staff who are caught will be severely dealt with; we must desist from acts that undermine the smooth implementation of the Free SHS policy.”
The Headmaster of the school, Very Rev. Twumasi Ampofo, assured that the institution currently has enough food supplies to feed its students.
Earlier, Mr Abradu-Otoo visited Nkoranza South in the Bono East Region, where he held discussions with the Municipal Chief Executive, Godfred Dapaah.
Their discussions focused on food theft in schools and NAFCO’s plans to take over the silos at Nkoranza for use by the Buffer Stock Company.
The Nkoranza silo, one of the largest in the country, is currently being operated by a private entity.
Also present at the meeting was Daniel Atta-Kusi, a board member of NAFCO.
During the tour, the NAFCO CEO also inspected progress on the National Food Reserve facilities at Badu and the Wenchi warehouses.
Both locations currently receive, treat, package and store grain stocks for the country as part of the National Food Reserve initiative being implemented by NAFCO.
Mr Abradu-Otoo also toured the factories of Yedent, a private food-processing firm in Sunyani, Bono Region.
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.
