The government is set to establish an inter-ministerial taskforce to intensify surveillance and enforcement measures against the illegal importation of rice through unauthorized border routes, Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku has announced.
Speaking at the West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable, held under the theme “Mobilising Transformational Capital to Support West Africa’s Rice Agenda,” Mr. Opoku described rice smuggling as a major threat to Ghana’s efforts to strengthen local rice production and improve the livelihoods of farmers.
According to the Minister, the proposed taskforce will comprise key state institutions responsible for border security, trade regulation, and law enforcement. Its mandate will be to monitor border activities, enforce existing regulations, and curb the influx of illegally imported rice into the country.
“Government will establish an inter-ministerial taskforce to intensify surveillance and enforcement against the import of rice through unauthorized border routes,” Mr. Opoku stated.
He explained that the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to protect local rice producers and accelerate the growth of Ghana’s rice industry.
Despite ongoing investments in domestic rice production, the Minister noted that illegal imports continue to flood the market, creating unfair competition for local farmers and millers. This, he said, undermines efforts to expand production, improve profitability, and attract further investment into the sector.
Mr. Opoku reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the entire rice value chain through targeted policies aimed at increasing local production, enhancing processing capacity, and reducing Ghana’s dependence on imported rice.
The announcement comes amid renewed efforts across West Africa to attract investment into the rice sector, boost regional production, and improve food security while reducing reliance on imports.