The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Major Courage Quashigah (rtd), says food prices would start going down soon due to measures instituted by the government to ensure adequate food supply.
His assurance comes in the wake of debate in Parliament on a minority motion calling on Parliament to view with serious concern the escalating prices of foodstuffs and urge the government to take immediate steps to arrest the situation. The majority side has also moved an amendment motion stating: "that this House conscious of the strenuous efforts currently being made by government to improve the economy, urges government to remain steadfast in this pursuit in order to revamp the agricultural sector and stabilise food prices."
Addressing District, Municipal and Metropolitan Chief Executives on the state of agriculture at the on-going orientation course for them, the Minister said "From now on food prices would go down...Ghanaians should not panic."
Government has received some food aid, which would be used to mitigate the effects of food shortage due to the lean season. "My ministry is working with the Ministry of Roads and Highways to identify places where food has been locked up due to the bad nature of roads so as to facilitate its transportation to market centres", the minister said. He gave the example of Ejura Farms, which has transported maize to the capital and are advertising it for sale.
The government has also indicated that in the long term, problems affecting the performance of the Ghana Food Distribution Corporation (GFDC) in facilitating an all year round food distribution in the country was being addressed. There is the possibility that the company would be divested but the minister assures that the interest and rights of the workers would be given serious attention in the taking of such a decision.
Major Quashigah bemoaned the situation where some importers were deliberately exploiting consumers, saying, "as one people let us do what is right and look at each other with love".
On the reported arrival of imported quality rice by Mr Charles Kofi Wayo, an NPP member at competitive prices, he said this shows the love by one man to stop exploitation of consumers and still make profit.
He described the escalation in food prices as a yearly ritual due to the lack of processing facilities and post-harvest losses, which the trader passes on to the consumer. He advised the DCEs not to rush into taking decisions on agriculture but work with district directors on the field.
The government has adopted a fast track approach known as "Objective 2010", which would pave the way to achieve the sustained growth for the country as enshrined in Vision 2020, the former government's blueprint for socio-economic development.
