During a tour of rice farms at the Asutuare‑Akuse Irrigation Scheme in Greater Accra, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia pledged that an NPP government would prioritise agriculture and restore farm input subsidies to support local food production.
He said agriculture would remain a key pillar of his economic agenda, with a renewed emphasis on reducing production costs, improving farmers’ access to essential inputs and creating better opportunities for local producers.
The visit came amid growing concerns over the lack of a reliable market for locally produced rice. More than 3,500 farmers in the scheme have complained that thousands of tonnes of rice have remained unsold for over two years, straining their finances and threatening the sustainability of their businesses.
Responding to the farmers’ appeals, Bawumia pledged that an NPP government would prioritise domestic food production, especially rice, as part of efforts to reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported food. He also indicated that restoring fertiliser subsidies would be a core policy in the party’s manifesto.
Observers note that the pledge signals a shift in the NPP’s agricultural strategy, aiming to address the supply chain bottlenecks that have hampered local rice farmers.
