Prof. Roger Kanton, an Agro Research Scientist, has commended the government’s decisive action to impose an immediate ban on grain exports.
Speaking to ABC New GH on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, he described the measure as a “right step in the direction” to safeguard the nation’s food security amidst the severe drought ravaging Northern Ghana.
“You have to become nationalistic. If you don’t protect your own, then what becomes of your people?
“So it is quiet a dicey issue, but I think it is a measure in the right direction.”
“There are several things we can do in the long term, first is to focus more on funding our research and development institutions.”
The ban is part of a series of urgent interventions aimed at curbing the adverse effects of the prolonged dry spells that have devastated the region, threatening the livelihoods of over 435,000 farmers.
The government’s strategy, outlined by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, during a media briefing on Monday, August 26, includes deploying forces to the borders to prevent the smuggling of grains out of the country.
Professor Caton’s endorsement of the export ban reflects the broader consensus on the necessity of such measures to avert a potential food crisis.
In addition to the export ban, the government has pledged to support the affected farmers with input grants and credit facilities to alleviate their financial burdens.
This multi-faceted approach is designed to not only address the immediate challenges posed by the drought but also to strengthen the resilience of the agricultural sector in the long term.
As the nation braces for the impact of this environmental crisis, the government’s actions have drawn both scrutiny and praise, with Professor Caton’s approval highlighting the importance of swift and strategic intervention.
