A delegation from the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has held discussions with the new leadership of National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) in Accra aimed at strengthening food security in Ghana and the sub-region. 

The visit was also intended to consolidate existing relationship between Ghana’s National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) and Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The two-member visiting team also held similar discussions with Ghana’s Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku. 
Since 2017, Ghana’s NAFCO has been holding emergency food stocks for the regional economic bloc after winning a competitive bid as part a comprehensive action for a regional food security reserve supported by the European Union (EU) and being implemented by the Lome-based RAAF. 

The Executive Director of the ECOWAS Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF), Mr. Mohamed Zongo commended NAFCO and the Ghanaian government for being worthy partners in the food security agenda.

He said through the Regional Food Security Reserve concept, ECOWAS has carried out 23 interventions to forestall famine and insecurity in countries such as Niger, Mali, Sierra Leone, Cameroun and Ghana where some 70,000 metric tones of different grains and cereals were handed over to governments in beneficiary countries. 

Mr. Zongo hinted of a decision by RAAF to scale-up its reserves in Ghana in the course of the year.

The Chief Executive Officer of NAFCO, commended ECOWAS for prioritizing the food security needs of the subregion and expressed the readiness of NAFCO to deepen its relations with RAAF for the common good of the subregion. 

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NAFCO, Mr. Osmond Amuah asked RAAF to consider strategic supports to Ghana towards the enhancement of its storage facilities and management.

Mr. Zongo was accompanied by the Head of the Regional Food Security Reserve Division, Mr. MalickBen Iddris Lompo.   

Present at the meeting were some management team members of NAFCO including Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel J.K Arthur; Head of Operations, Mr. Arnold Kojo Akah, Head of Finance, Mr. Titus Tawiah and Head of Human Resources, Mad. Rebecca Mensah.

In September last year, Ghana received 500 metric tonnes of cereals from the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve to help its national response strategy following a drought that affected major grain supply areas in northern Ghana. 

The delivery of maize, sorghum, millet, and rice increased the resilience of populations facing food insecurity.

The Reserve is the third pillar of ECOWAS’ regional storage strategy, adopted by its 15-member nations on February 28, 2013, in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire by ECOWAS Heads of States.