NAFCO dismisses food shortage claims, blames challenges on perishables

Apr 29, 2026

The National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) has rejected claims of food shortages in Ghana’s school feeding system, insisting that schools currently have adequate supplies of non-perishable commodities.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday (20 April), Senior Manager of Corporate Affairs at NAFCO, Emmanuel Arthur, said reports suggesting a shortage are inaccurate.

According to him, the real challenge lies in the provision of perishable items such as vegetables and meat, not staple food supplies.

“There is no food shortage. Schools have more than enough non-perishable food. The issue has to do with perishables and the cost of preparing meals,” he explained.

Arthur noted that school authorities are struggling to procure these items due to delayed payments, prompting calls for government to settle outstanding debts owed to suppliers.

He added that NAFCO and the Ghana Commodity Exchange currently supply about 18 non-perishable food items to schools, while institutions themselves are responsible for sourcing perishables.

The clarification comes amid concerns from parents and stakeholders over disruptions in school feeding in some parts of the country.

Source: Asaase Radio

Government to procure 2 rice mills to ease post-harvest losses, boost food security – NAFCO boss

Apr 29, 2026

Government has announced plans to procure two rice mills this year as part of efforts to address growing frustration among rice farmers and strengthen Ghana’s food security system.

The CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), George Abradu-Otoo, disclosed this during a courtesy call on the King and Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Abukari II, at Yendi.

He said one of the mills will be sited in the Northern Region to ease the burden on rice farmers who often struggle to process their paddy rice after harvest.

The intervention, he noted, forms part of broader measures to deal with grain glut challenges and improve food distribution systems across the country.

“I know the importance of this region to food security in the country. I will do anything possible to ensure the greater participation of farmers in all our dealings,” Mr Abradu-Otoo said.

He explained that the planned investment is expected to improve value addition, reduce post-harvest losses and enhance rice production efficiency in key farming areas.

The NAFCO CEO is currently on a five-day working visit across the Northern, Upper East, Upper West and Savannah Regions.

The tour includes visits to selected second-cycle institutions to assess food supply under the Free Senior High School programme and inspections of ongoing warehouse rehabilitation projects under the National Food Reserve programme.

As part of the visit, Mr Abradu-Otoo and his team toured Yendi Senior High School and Dabokpa Secondary Technical School, where school authorities expressed satisfaction with the consistency of food supply since 2025.

He also inspected warehouses in Yendi and Tamale to assess their readiness for the next phase of national food storage operations.

The Yaa Naa Abubakari II commended NAFCO’s role in supporting national food sufficiency, stressing the importance of the agency’s performance to both farmers and food security.

“When NAFCO fails, farmers suffer, and food security is compromised,” the Yaa Naa said.

Mr Abradu-Otoo also held separate discussions with the Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, and the Lamanshegu Naa, Naa Iddrisu Mohammed, in Tamale as part of his regional engagements.

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.