Rice is one of the most important food crops in west Africa, particularly in Ghana.
However, production is insufficient to meet growing national demand, resulting in increased dependency on imports.
About 60% of the rice consumed in Ghana is imported which amounts to $391 million per a year.
This significantly increases Ghana's vulnerability to potential external shocks.
One way to reverse this import dependency is to improve the local rice sector.
In sub Saharan Africa, some local value chains are upgrading through technical and organisational changes led by millers and wholesalers.
Such transformation are characterized by investors in upgraded milling and storing technologies, and by improving the supply system through agreement between producers and buyers.
This will enable the economies of scale, improvement of product quality and better competitiveness of domestic rice sector.
The Ashanti Regional minister, honourable Simon Osei Mensah has been very instrumental in championing the course of improving the increase in the rice production in the Region.
On the 19th of June 2023, the Ashanti Regional minister led a delegation from china to Tepa traditional council to access valleys and swamps land in Maabang Kwasuoagya and Tepa Odikronkwanta to plant their machine for commencement of rice factory in the Municipality.
The Regional minister introducing the Chinese chamber of commence investors to the paramount chief of Tepa traditional council, Nana Adusei Atwerewaa Ampem 1, he stated that improving rice production within the region has been his priority.
Upon series of delibrations with foreign investors, these three china rice investors has agreed to invest in the region.
Mr Simon Osei Mensah lamented that, he was therefore directed by the paramount chief of the Asante kingdom, Otumfour Osei Tutu ll, to Tepa since there are valleys and swamps land which has already been earmarked by the late Nana Antwi Darko Montwie, then the paramount chief of Maabang Traditional council purposely for such projects.
Nana Adusei Atwerewaa Ampem 1, in his welcome address congratulated the Regional minister and thanked Otumfour for choosing Tepa Municipality for such a such projects.
The Chinese rice investors were very happy and promise to start the project very soon.
Among the entourage of the Minister were, the regional economic planning officer, the regional coordinating director, the regional director of Agric and his personal assistant.
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