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Maize traders in the Bono East Region are alarmed about an impending maize shortage in the area. They report that traders from neighboring countries are invading local farms to buy maize and other staple foodstuffs at competitive prices directly from farmers, bypassing traditional markets.
This trend has sparked concerns about potential food insecurity if pragmatic measures are not taken. Traders and cargo drivers in the Techiman market have expressed their distress over the recent influx of Francophone traders competing for maize at the farm gate, leading to scarcity and potential food shortages.
A recent report by the Ghana Statistical Service indicated a 39 percent food inflation rate in the Bono East Region, underscoring the severity of the situation. The region, known as the food basket of the country, faces a national security threat due to the activities of foreign traders.
Mr. Obiri Yeboah, Secretary for the Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, and Ashanti Regional Maize Sellers Association, expressed concern that farmers prefer to sell maize at the farm gate to foreign traders at higher prices, rather than selling at the main market.
Mr. Yeboah noted that this practice has led to a shortage of maize in the Techiman market and other areas, as traders from Francophone countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are purchasing food with CFA francs, which have a higher value than the Ghanaian cedi. This influx of foreign traders has driven up commodity prices, making it difficult for local citizens to afford basic goods, including food.
He called on stakeholders to implement strategic measures to appreciate the Ghanaian currency and prevent other countries from having a purchasing advantage over Ghanaian traders.
