The Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr Joseph Siaw Adjepong, has called on Ghana to draw inspiration from Nigeria's success in rice production and strive for self-sufficiency in the staple crop. Speaking at the Ghana Food Security Conference 2023, Dr Adjepong emphasized the need to learn from Nigeria's experience rather than reinventing the wheel.

Nigeria, after implementing a ban on rice imports, has made significant strides in rice production, surpassing Egypt with an annual output of 5.8 million tonnes. Dr Adjepong hailed Nigeria's progress, describing it as gradually evolving into a rice-growing superpower.

Despite facing supply shortages in commodities like rice, maize, soya, and tomatoes, Dr Adjepong expressed optimism about reducing or halting rice imports with the initiation of the Jospong Group Rice Project. He affirmed the commitment to confront and solve challenges, predicting a significant impact on rice imports through the ongoing project.

Encouraging stakeholders, particularly rice farmers and scientists, Dr Adjepong urged them not to be discouraged by perceived policy inadequacies. He emphasized that the initiative's success would influence policy changes in favour of local production.

The CEO of the Asian African Consortium (AAC), Mrs Adelaide Siaw Adjepong, leading the Jospong Group Rice Project, highlighted the pivotal role of science, research, and development in driving innovation and productivity. She warned about the potential rise in Africa's annual food import costs from $50 billion to $110 billion by 2030 without immediate measures to enhance food production.

Prof. Paul Bosu, the Director-General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), expressed hope that the two-day conference would set a course toward achieving Ghana's goal of food security and self-sufficiency in rice production. He emphasized Ghana's capability to attain food security and highlighted the collaboration between CSIR and AAC to work towards this vision.

Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Labi, General Secretary of the Church of Pentecost, representing the Church's Chairman, commended the initiative's timing in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goal Two: “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.”