Buffer Stock CEO tours schools and warehouses in Eastern Region

Mar 9, 2026

The CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), George Abradu-Otoo, has embarked on a week-long working tour across parts of the country to strengthen the company’s operational efficiency.

 

 

Accompanied by company technical personnel, the tour will take him through the Eastern, Ashanti, Bono East, and Bono Regions to acquaint him with NAFCO’s operations on the ground.

The first stop was Aburi Girls Secondary School, where the team was received by Headmistress Wilhemina Obuobisa Attakorah. Briefing the delegation, she commended NAFCO for ensuring a regular supply of food to the school.

“As we speak, we do not have any challenges with food, especially regarding shortages or inadequacy; we have enough to cater for our students,” she said.

Mr Abradu-Otoo urged the school to maintain good storage practices to preserve the quality and safety of food commodities supplied.

At Benkum Senior High School in Larteh, Headmaster Enoch Ampofo told the visiting team, “There is more than enough to feed our students.”

The school currently has a student population of 3,428. He also highlighted inadequate storage facilities as a challenge.

Mr Abradu-Otoo advised the schools to take delivery of food commodities in instalments or use nearby NAFCO warehouses as interim storage.

In Koforidua, the CEO and his team paid a courtesy call on the Regional Minister, Rita Awatey, who lauded NAFCO’s work over the past year.

“As the Regional Minister, I have no complaints, because all our schools currently have food in abundance. That attests to your hard work as Buffer Stock CEO,” she said.

Mr Abradu-Otoo thanked the Minister for her support, saying, “I have also heard about you and your good works in this Region, and I want to thank you for that.”

The delegation later toured an old warehouse at Kukurantimi, earmarked for rehabilitation under the National Food Reserve Program.

Mr Abradu-Otoo is accompanied by the company’s Head of Operations, Arnold Akah; Head of Corporate Affairs, Emmanuel J.K. Arthur; and the National Coordinator of the National Food Reserve, Aziz Peregrino Braimah.

The team has since moved on to the Ashanti Region to continue their assessment of NAFCO’s operations.

 

 

Buffer Stock CEO directs SHS heads to enforce quality standards on food supplies

Mar 9, 2026

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company, George Abradu-Otoo, has directed heads of senior high schools

to insist on quality food supplies from approved vendors.

Wilhelmina Oboubisa-Atakora, Headmistress of Aburi Girls’ Senior High School, said: “Everything is well here for us at Aburi Girls, only that we do not have enough space. This is why some heads may reject receiving items when suppliers bring them. The suppliers need to be introduced to us so that we can properly communicate on when food should be supplied.”

Food security central to national stability – Ashanti Regional Minister

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.

National Food Buffer Stock to designate warehouses as storage facilities

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.

Buffer Stock CEO warns against stealing of food in schools

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.

Mahama directs Buffer Stock to procure local rice for all schools

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.

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.