The Government of Ghana has announced plans to implement a new import quota policy designed to increase demand for locally produced rice and strengthen the country’s domestic rice value chain.

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, announced the initiative at the West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable in Accra on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

Under the new policy, rice import permits will be directly linked to support for local production. Importers will be required to demonstrate verifiable procurement and partnerships with Ghanaian rice farmers and producers to secure clearance for imports.

Objectives of the Policy

The initiative is designed to address key structural areas in Ghana's agricultural sector:

- Reducing the country’s heavy reliance on imported rice.

- Stimulating local production capacity.

- Improving market access for domestic farmers.

- Attracting new investment into the rice value chain.

Key Statements from the Ministry

Minister Eric Opoku outlined the structural requirements of the upcoming policy:

“Government will implement an import quota policy that directly links the privilege of importing rice to the growth of domestic production. Under this policy, rice importers will be required to demonstrate verifiable procurement of and partnership with Ghanaian rice production before import permits are approved.”

Mr Opoku further emphasized that the policy would not negatively impact market stability or consumer costs:

“We are not raising tariffs that punish consumers. We are not imposing bans that create shortages. We are redirecting the existing value in the rice trade towards building our own productive capacity.”