The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Eric Opoku, has accused the immediate past administration led by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, of leaving behind a trail of debt and economic hardship after eight years in power.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on the Citizen Show hosted by Nana Otu Darko on Accra 100.5 FM on Friday, August 22, 2025, the Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asunafo South in the Ahafo Region, said his Ministry inherited a staggering debt of nine billion Ghana cedis from the previous government.

According to him, the liabilities included arrears in goods and services, as well as unpaid statutory obligations such as annual membership subscriptions to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.

He revealed that Ghana’s inability to settle these commitments compelled the FAO to cut ties with the country.

Mr. Opoku further disclosed that upon assuming office, his Ministry discovered an outstanding debt of 27,000 tonnes of cereals owed to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The matter, he said, was promptly referred to the Ministry of Finance to commission an audit and facilitate payment of legitimate debts.

Highlighting the importance of the sector, the Minister stressed that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is central to the government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy initiative.

As part of this, the Feed Ghana programme has been rolled out to enhance food security and stabilise prices.

“The new programme is aimed at reducing food prices by ensuring affordability, availability, and quality,” he explained.

Comparing the current situation to the past, Mr. Opoku noted that food inflation under the Akufo-Addo administration reached a record 61 percent in July 2023 — the highest in the Fourth Republic — despite the much-publicised Planting for Food and Jobs initiative.

In contrast, he said, food inflation in 2014 under President John Mahama’s first term was as low as five percent.

Mr. Opoku concluded that the government remains committed to restoring confidence in the agriculture sector while addressing the debts and challenges inherited from the previous administration.