UNPACKING THE LIES TOLD BY DR BAWUMIA ON THE HIKE IN MAIZE PRICE DURING HIS SPEECH ON THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY
Today, at the National TESCON conference held at Kasoa Yesukrom, Dr Bawumia was given the opportunity to speak on the Ghanaian economy and during his speech he made an absurd statement by attributing the hike in maize price to the recent Russia/Ukraine war. As a student and a maize farmer, I take strong exception to his assertion and have decided to set the records straight and bury the lies.
When at all did Russia/Ukraine war started to be used as an excuse to shield the incompetence of people perceived as sharp-witted in the management of the economy? Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. As at this date, No sanctions where imposed on Russia untill the feud lasted for about one week.
I would like to state emphatically that as at the time Russia suspended the exportation of fertilizers, no farmer in Ghana at that time needed fertilizer to apply his crops. On 10th March 2022, BBC reported that Russia has made plans to band the exportation of fertilizers to other countries (https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60689279)
Now this is where the Vice president had it wrong – the Dry season for maize ended in November/December 2021. During this time, farmers had already harvested their maize and may either sell or hoard the grains depending on the financial capacity of the farmer. Also note that, if by November or December all farmers had already harvested their maize then automatically it means they purchased fertilizers in either June, July or August 2021 because this is when the dry season for maize begins especially in the southern part of Ghana.
The maize available now, which is experiencing a price hike are the ones harvested in the dry season (Between Nov/Dec 2021) and cannot be said to have been affected by the Russia-Ukraine war. Dr Bawumia’s argument could have been accepted if the war should last till the maize for the Rainy season is harvested. This is because farmers have now started sowing their maize for the rainy season and will need fertilizers to apply the crop at the early stage till the plant begins to convert potential kernels into viable and developing kernels before it is harvested in 3-4 months time.
It is really absurd and mind bending to hear the Vice president, attribute his colossal incompetence in the management of the economy to the recent Russia and Ukraine war which has no linkage to the astronomical increase in the price of maize in this country.
I am really disappointed in the Vice President for peddling falsehood even at a point that he is observing his fast in the holy month of Ramadan. May Allah pardon him for this and accept his fast.
RASHID IBRAHIM
(UPSA TEIN PRESIDENT)
