However, he said the strategies to enforce the ban must be well-executed to ensure its effectiveness.

Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Mr. Kareweh warned that with the political season approaching, some individuals might try to exploit the situation and therefore the government should be minded.

“The ban is necessary, but the real issue is how well it’s going to be implemented. The government must ensure that everything put in place is done without any hitches. Government should ensure that things are done right” he said.

The government recently announced an immediate ban on grain exports in response to the severe drought affecting several regions. The decision is aimed at stabilizing food supplies within the country.

However, Mr. Kareweh stressed the need for the government to police the borders effectively and support farmers during this period.

“We want to be sure that the government will genuinely police our borders and also provide the necessary support to farmers,” he stated.

He further described the current moment as “an emotional time” for many, noting that while the exercise is good, it should not be selective.

Mr. Kareweh jabbed the government’s Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiative, calling its first phase a failure.

“It’s a failure, and they should admit it. They are not fit for purpose; they are just making up lies.”

He however argued that if the One Village, One Dam initiative had been successful, it would have helped mitigate the current crisis.

“As a country, we have failed. You don’t wait until now to act,” he lamented.

The former GAWU General Secretary therefore urged the government to implement stronger agricultural policies, stressing the importance of guiding farmers on best practices.

“The government must ensure that farmers adhere to established standards,” he said.

Adomonline.com | Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy

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He believes the ban will only exacerbate the situation for both the country and farmers.

On Monday, August 26, the government announced the export ban as a measure to prevent a potential food shortage due to reduced rainfall in northern Ghana.

However, Mr. Addai, in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Wednesday, expressed his concerns, stating, “The ban won’t help the country; it will only worsen the situation.”

He said the government should focus on implementing policies and strategies that genuinely assist farmers.

“Their strategies do not align with our proposals, and the policies are not understood by the farmers—they don’t even impact them,” he said.

Mr. Addai also criticized the lack of consultation, saying, “We were not even consulted on the import ban. They don’t consult those who matter.”

He urged the government to avoid political games and instead work towards genuine agricultural improvements.

“We want to improve upon agriculture. There is no maintenance, and they should stop playing politics,” he said.

He also called for better infrastructure, such as irrigation systems, to support farmers.

He therefore urged the government to revisit their approach.

“They should go back to the drawing board and develop a proper strategy for imports. That’s what the country needs now” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, remains optimistic, assuring that there will be no famine despite the ongoing drought in Northern Ghana.

Source: Adomonline.com | Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy

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Grain export ban ineffective, root causes must be addressed – Minority

The MV Brave Commander departed from the Black Sea port of Pivdennyi laden with 23,000 tonnes of wheat intended for Ethiopia.

The UN’s World Food Programme, which bought more than half its wheat from Ukraine before the war, says 345 million people in 82 countries are now facing acute food insecurity and need urgent humanitarian support.

More than a dozen ships carrying grain have left Ukraine since a UN-brokered deal to allow safe passage of ships was signed on 22 July.

The cargo aboard the Brave Commander was funded by donations from the WFP, the US Agency for International Development and several private donors.

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Turkish and Ukrainian officials say the ship left the southern port of Odesa early on Monday morning local time.

Russia has been blockading Ukrainian ports since February, but the two sides agreed a deal to resume shipments.

It is hoped the deal will ease the global food crisis and lower the price of grain.

Turkey said the Sierra Leone-flagged vessel, the Razoni, would dock in Lebanon, adding that further shipments were planned over the coming weeks.

The Joint Co-ordination Centre, set up in Istanbul under the deal, said the ship was carrying some 26,000 tonnes of corn and was expected to arrive in Turkish waters for inspection on Tuesday.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the departure of the ship and hailed Turkey for its role in working to implement the agreement.

“Today Ukraine, together with partners, takes another step to prevent world hunger,” Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister Alexander Kubrakov wrote on Facebook.

“Unlocking ports will provide at least $1 billion in foreign exchange revenue to the economy and an opportunity for the agricultural sector to plan for next year.”

Mr Kubrakov added that 16 other ships were waiting to depart in the ports of Odesa Region in the coming weeks.

Last month’s deal – brokered by the UN and Turkey – took two months to reach and is set to last for 120 days. It can be renewed if both parties agree.

The blockade of Ukraine’s grain has contributed to a global food crisis with wheat-based products like bread and pasta becoming more expensive, and cooking oils and fertiliser also increasing in price.

Russia and Ukraine jointly account for nearly a third of global wheat supplies. In 2019 Ukraine accounted for 16% of the world’s corn supplies and 42% of sunflower oil, according to UN data.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the shipment a “relief for the world” and urged Moscow to “respect its part of the deal”.

Under the terms of the deal, Russia has agreed not to target ports while shipments are in transit and Ukraine has agreed that its naval vessels will guide cargo ships through waters that have been mined.

Turkey – supported by the United Nations – will inspect ships, to allay Russian fears of weapons smuggling.

Three ports in southern Ukraine – Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdenny – are expected to be the focal point of the exports.

Last month’s deal was thrown into chaos less than 24 hours after it was announced that Russia had launched two missiles at Odesa port.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strike showed that Moscow could not be trusted to stick to the deal.

But the Kremlin said the attack was aimed at a Ukrainian naval ship docked at the port and insisted that the strike did not affect the agreement.

Odesa MP Oleksiy Goncharenko told the BBC he expected shipments to continue from the other ports on Tuesday but warned Russia might attempt to disrupt them with further military action.

“We see these awful missile attacks against Odesa in the last days – that is just their attempts to increase the risks for ship owners, for crew, not to come to Odesa,” he said.

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