The activities of traders from the Sahelian countries smuggling food stuffs out of Ghana to sell is accounting for the rise in the prices of food stuffs in the Upper East Region. This is according to the Upper East Regional Agric Officer in charge of extension services, Mr. Zimi Alhassan.
Mr. Zimi said Ghana’s peaceful nature coupled with abundant food stuffs that is sold at cheaper prices is attracting traders from surrounding countries that face varuous conflicts and food insecurity in their countries into the country. He said the traders come as ordinary traders but end up smuggling the food stuffs outside to the neighbouring countries.
” Ghana is a peace loving country which is surrounded by Countries who suffer various forms of conflicts and some of this conflicts has made it difficult for them to go into production. The fast approach of the desert and climate change has also made it difficult for many of them to crop.”
“We are a major food basket in the ECOWAS sub-region. Our food are of quality, cheaper and affordable so many of them troop into the country as ordinary traders and buy quantities of food stuffs at relatively cheaper prices and to the best of our knowledge, they end up smuggling them outside the country.
Speaking at the sidelines of stakeholders engagement in the agriculture sector in the UpperEastRegion, Mr. Zimi said his outfit has observed the mass movement of food stuffs from the Builsa South, Navrongo and Bolga markets.
“We have observed mass movement of food stuffs from Upper East here especially in the Builsa South, Navrongo and even Bolgatanga markets. People come inside and buy food stuffs and smuggle them outside”
The Agric Extension officer expressed concern over the development with its attended implications on the food security of Ghana. He said the activities of smugglers deny the country huge income in the form of taxes and results in the rise in the prices of food stuffs in Ghana.
” it is a concern because it is eating into our food basket. They are increasing the demand and you know the law of demand and supply operates, once the demand is higher than supply, prices will rise and it is the activities of these foreign smugglers that is causing the rise in the food prices now.”
Not withstanding this development, Mr.Zimi has assured the people of the Upper East Region that there will be enough food for domestic consumption in 2023.
By: Simon Agana Blessing/mywordfmonline.com