Gov’t Requires GHS 500m to Address Food Glut – Agric Minister
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has disclosed that government will require about GH¢500 million to resolve the ongoing oversupply of farm produce, a situation widely described as a food glut across parts of the country.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, November 10, 2025, the Minister emphasised the need for a coordinated, data-driven approach to the challenge, noting that swift and strategic action is critical to safeguarding the livelihoods of farmers and stabilising food prices.
“You do not just get up and move into a farm because there is a glut. You need to move there with your technical team to ascertain the amount of farm produce to be procured.
From the figures we are receiving, we will need about GH¢500 million to be able to clear it,” Mr. Opoku stated.
He revealed that the Ministry is currently engaging the World Food Programme (WFP) and other development partners to develop a comprehensive framework for managing the glut and preventing similar occurrences in the future.
The Minister further indicated that an effective response could restore confidence among farmers and encourage reinvestment in agriculture, which remains a key pillar of Ghana’s economy.
“If we are able to deal with it properly, it can encourage our farmers to reinvest in farming because it becomes profitable. But if we don’t act and allow these foods to go to waste, it will be a huge loss of the century, and people will be demotivated to invest in agriculture,” he added.
The GH¢500 million intervention, according to policy observers, could support measures such as direct procurement of excess produce, expansion of storage and processing infrastructure, and enhanced distribution networks to deficit areas.
The government’s move aligns with broader efforts to stabilise food prices, protect farmers’ incomes, and ensure sustainable agricultural production nationwide — a key component of the administration’s medium-term food security strategy.
