According to Eric Opoku, Ranking Member of the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed Ghana imports cassava.
He said that if sufficient support is offered, Ghana can meet demand.
In response to a question about why the government can’t stop businesses from importing cassava from China and others, he responded, While Ghana produces cassava, it does not yet produce industrial starch, therefore if the company cannot source any locally, would you believe we are importing cassava?
The Agric officer recommended the lawmaker to compare the imported cassava to the locally consumed cassava before deciding on importation.
No, we don’t think they’re all alike. There is a distinction between food and industrial use. Should have studied what is imported and consumed locally”, he remarked.
A plant to create industrial starch will reduce imports and earn revenue for the local market, he stated on Accra’s Okay Fm.
High-quality cassava flour and even wheat may now be produced, eliminating wheat imports. Our objective now is to convince investors to fund the ministry.
Source: TheBBCghana.Com
