Ken Ofori-Atta addressing the media
The Jospong Group of Companies’ (JGC) determination to spend money on the rice sector has been hailed as a ‘great booster’ in the direction of the federal government’s imaginative and prescient of guaranteeing that Ghana turns into a internet exporter of rice.
According to the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, this determination by JGC was not solely ‘timely’ however extra importantly, illustrates the genius of a Ghanaian entrepreneur, “and we commend Dr. Siaw Agyepong for that.”
“We will back this decision with the various government inter-ministerial financial support in a pragmatic way so that we can encourage more people to take this position that you have taken,” he gave a agency assurance.
Mr. Ofori-Atta made the commentary when a delegation of buyers from Thailand, led by the Executive Chairman of the JGC, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, and the Honorary Consul of Ghana in Thailand, Dr. Sicha Singsomboon, paid a courtesy go to to the Finance Minister on Friday, December 30, 2022.
The affiliation and collaboration between JGC and Thailand rice trade, he continued, was in the proper route, including that it ought to set off transformation of Ghana’s rice sector.
“We shall become exporters of rice and not importers within the period of three years and that is a commitment,” the finance minister optimistically expressed.
Furthermore, he advised the companions within the Ghana-Thailand rice mission to make sure that the collaboration advances manufacturing, intensive analysis, and the information that Thailand brings.
“It should also provide value addition and market linkages and self-sustained models,” he added.
To this finish, Mr. Ofori-Atta assured the mission of presidency’s robust help to make sure its success.
“We are resolute and determined to catalyse the operations of businesses such as Jospong Group of Companies to propel the economic transformation and growth of our country,” he underscored.
In the agency view of the finance minister, it was so prison that for Ghana to have a lot arable lands, water, and beneficial climate circumstances, but proceed to import over two billion {dollars} price of rice.
“Since 2017, we’ve spent over a million dollars importing rice. What’s more embarrassing, is that a country like Ukraine exports about 74 million tons of grains despite the current conflict, and you wonder why Ghana and Africa have fallen asleep,” he lamented.
He, subsequently, identified that this pattern have to be curtailed, indicating that this was not the legacy the Akufo-Addo-led authorities would need to depart.
“So let’s continue to promote the private sector leadership and ensure that this becomes a thing of the past.”
He burdened that the Ghana Cares Obaatanpa programme is one key initiative by the federal government to mitigate the present financial challenges bedveilling the nation.
It’s the imaginative and prescient of President Akufo-Addo to make use of a well-capitalised improvement financial institution to push such initiatives, he famous.
In a short comment, the Executive Chairman of the JGC, Dr. Siaw Agyepong, mentioned venturing into rice manufacturing wanted expertise and the technical information to extend yields, thus the necessity to woo buyers with the proper expertise and mechanical belongings into Ghana.
From the ministry of finance, the Thai delegation referred to as on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the place the latter assured them of her ministry’s full help to make sure the profitable implementation of the mission.
She was notably excited to listen to the delegation of Thai buyers have plans to arrange an natural fertiliser plant in Ghana.
Such a transfer, she intimated, will assist enhance agriculture manufacturing and in addition cut back the operational value of Ghanaian farmers.
