The 2026 Budget Statement has introduced a major directive from President John Dramani Mahama aimed at strengthening Ghana’s agricultural sector and securing stable markets for local producers.
Presenting the budget in Parliament, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson announced that all public schools—from basic to tertiary levels—have been instructed to procure only staple food items produced in Ghana.
The initiative, branded the “Buy Ghana, Eat Ghana” policy, is designed to guarantee a reliable market for local farmers, raise their incomes, and stimulate domestic food production.
Dr Forson underscored the clarity of the instruction issued from the Presidency:
“President Mahama has directed all schools, from basic to secondary, to purchase rice, maize, chicken, and eggs produced in Ghana only,” he stated.
This policy will affect a significant portion of the national food procurement budget, especially for primary schools, JHS, and SHS under the Free SHS Programme.
To ensure strict enforcement, five government and educational agencies have been tasked with overseeing compliance:
- Ministry of Education
- Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund)
- School Feeding Programme
- Free Secondary Education Secretariat
- National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFBC)
The National Food Buffer Stock Company, in particular, will play a central role by aggregating, storing, and distributing locally produced rice and maize to schools across the country.
The “Buy Ghana, Eat Ghana” directive serves as a strategic market intervention, offering indirect subsidies and price stability for Ghanaian farmers. The policy targets four key commodities:
- Rice and Maize: Ensures a ready market for grain farmers, reducing import-driven price fluctuations and preventing post-harvest losses.
- Chicken and Eggs: Provides consistent demand for domestic poultry farmers, helping them compete more effectively against cheaper imported frozen poultry.
By securing guaranteed markets for these staple foods, the government aims to boost agricultural output, reduce the country’s dependence on food imports, and enhance the livelihoods of crop and poultry farmers nationwide.
