Mahama Announces Plan for Five Maize Processing Plants

President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled a strategic plan to establish five maize processing plants across Ghana, a major intervention aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening the country’s agricultural value chain.

Speaking during his Resetting Ghana Tour in the Northern Region on Saturday, April 18, the President explained that the initiative is designed to address persistent challenges faced by maize farmers, particularly during bumper harvest seasons when excess supply leads to sharp price drops and significant financial losses.

According to him, the proposed processing plants will act as a buffer system, absorbing surplus maize from farmers and helping to stabilize market prices. By purchasing excess produce, the facilities will prevent wastage while ensuring farmers receive fair value for their harvests.

“The government is planning to establish five maize processing plants. One solution is to buy the excess produce and sell it later during the lean season. The other solution is to buy it and process it,” he stated.

President Mahama further noted that the plants will not only focus on storage but also on value addition through processing. This approach is expected to extend the shelf life of maize, create jobs, and open up new economic opportunities within the agro-processing sector.

He emphasized that the initiative is strategically aligned with efforts to tap into international markets. By processing maize into products such as corn flour, Ghana can take advantage of growing global demand and generate foreign exchange earnings.

“The plants will buy all the corn that is available from farmers and process it both for local consumption and for export. There’s an export market for corn flour, and we have excess corn, so we can process it and export it to bring dollars back to Ghana,” he added.

The announcement reflects a broader policy shift toward agro-industrialization, positioning agriculture not just as a subsistence activity but as a key driver of economic growth. By linking production to processing and export, the government aims to build a more resilient agricultural sector while protecting farmers from the recurring volatility associated with post-harvest periods.

The initiative is also expected to contribute to rural development by creating employment opportunities, improving supply chain efficiency, and enhancing food security across the country.