Accra: Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has raised concerns about the financial challenges facing local rice production under the current government administration. He claims that it is now more expensive to produce rice locally than to import it.
According to Ghana Web, Afenyo-Markin attributes this issue to the government's abandonment of agricultural priorities in favor of activities related to GoldBod. He argues that this policy shift has left farmers struggling and without a market for their produce, which he finds deeply concerning.
The Minority Leader emphasized the need for the government to realign its policies to prioritize agriculture. He believes that without this focus, farmers in the country will continue to face hardships. Afenyo-Markin shared these remarks while addressing TESCON members, highlighting the ongoing struggles of local farmers amidst the government's current economic strategies.
He further criticized the government's lack of understanding in managing the economy, suggesting that a clear policy could support agriculture, enhance the country's food basket, and create economic balance. Instead, he points to the government's focus on GoldBod and the related Gold for Reserves initiative as the root cause of the recent discord between the ministry of agriculture and the ministry of finance.