The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has accused the Mahama admnistration-linked contractors of undermining local farmers by importing rice for the School Feeding Programme (SFP), despite directives to source locally.
Addressing the Kwahu Business Forum on April 3, he indicated that the situation was a serious breach of public procurement expectations, particularly amid efforts to promote local agricultural production.
“Contractors engaged to supply the School Feeding Programme with locally produced rice instead of importing the grains, bypassing farmers who had prepared their produce following a direct presidential directive,” he stated.
According to him, the situation has serious consequences for Ghana’s farming communities, particularly those involved in rice production, who were expecting government support to access markets
The move has disappointed farming communities, especially rice producers, who expected government support. Afenyo-Markin criticizes the lack of transparency, saying,
“The Peasant Farmers Association has repeatedly requested that NAFCO publish the names of those contractors. NAFCO has not responded.” He calls it “a procurement betrayal” and demands accountability.
