Govt to Crack Down on Rice Smuggling – Agric. Minister

The government has announced plans to establish an inter-ministerial task force to intensify surveillance and enforcement against the illegal importation of rice through unauthorized border routes, in a renewed effort to protect local rice producers and strengthen domestic food production.

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, made the announcement at the West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable held in Accra under the theme “Mobilising Transformational Capital to Support West Africa’s Rice Agenda.”

He said rice smuggling continues to undermine government efforts to boost local production, distort market prices, and reduce the competitiveness of Ghanaian farmers and millers.

According to him, the new task force will bring together relevant security and regulatory institutions to monitor border activities, enforce existing import regulations, and clamp down on the influx of illegally imported rice into the country.

“Government will establish an inter-ministerial task force 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 national strategy to strengthen the rice value chain, improve domestic production capacity, and reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported rice.

The Minister noted that despite ongoing investments in irrigation, seed systems, and processing infrastructure, illegal imports continue to create unfair competition for local producers, limiting their ability to scale up production and achieve profitability.

He stressed that protecting local farmers is essential not only for food security but also for job creation and rural economic development, particularly in rice-growing communities across the country.

Mr. Opoku reaffirmed government’s commitment to policies aimed at increasing local rice output, improving post-harvest handling, and expanding milling and storage capacity to ensure year-round supply.

The announcement comes amid broader regional discussions on food security and agricultural transformation, as West African countries seek to reduce the estimated billions spent annually on rice imports.

Stakeholders at the roundtable also called for increased investment in irrigation systems, mechanisation, and value addition as part of efforts to close the production-consumption gap in the rice sector.

Government officials say the proposed task force will be deployed in collaboration with security agencies and border management authorities, with a focus on tightening enforcement and protecting domestic agricultural investments.

The move is expected to complement ongoing efforts to strengthen regional agricultural integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework and improve food self-sufficiency across West Africa.