'Unacceptable' - Bawumia fumes over farmers' inability to sell produce

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate for the 2028 elections, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has expressed concern over the difficulties confronting Ghanaian farmers who are unable to sell their produce despite good harvests.

Dr Bawumia described the situation as unacceptable, stressing that farmers who invest significant resources into production should not be left with unsold produce, particularly when they are willing to reduce their prices.

He made the remarks on Friday, September 11, 2026, when he met the leadership of the National Seed Trade Association of Ghana (NASTAG) in Accra as part of his stakeholder policy consultations.

The leadership of NASTAG, the umbrella body for certified private seed producers, told the former Vice President that Ghana’s food security was under threat, citing the country’s reliance on imported vegetable seeds, which account for about 90% of the market.

The association also raised concerns over the massive importation of food commodities, which it said had flooded the local market and left farmers with unsold stocks of maize, rice and soybeans even after reducing their prices.

“It is really troubling and unacceptable that we have a situation where farmers cannot sell their produce after investing and putting in so much effort. This is not only disincentive to farmers, it also negatively impacts agriculture,” Dr Bawumia said.

NASTAG further raised concerns about regulatory gaps in the National Seed Policy, the alleged hijacking of public seed procurement by what it described as “political seed merchants”, as well as infrastructure challenges affecting the sector.

Responding to the concerns, Dr Bawumia pledged that his administration would introduce sweeping reforms aimed at protecting local farmers and strengthening Ghana’s food sovereignty.

He said agriculture remained critical to Ghana’s development and promised increased investment in research and the transformation of the sector.

“I am very committed to agriculture. It is the key to our development and we must put in the resources to help grow the sector. We have to benefit from what is happening in other countries, learn what research has worked in our environment, and be prepared to invest in it,” he said.

Dr Bawumia thanked the NASTAG leadership for its candid assessment of the challenges facing the sector and assured them that his team would continue engaging stakeholders to develop practical solutions for farmers and the wider agricultural industry.

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