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An Economist and a lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Mr. Kusi Boafo says his three days visit to the nation’s food basket, Brong Ahafo Region has revealed there will be hardship after the Christmas festivity.

According to him, his observations and what he saw show that this year’s Christmas season will not be enjoyable as the region which supply food items to the rest of the regions in the country is undergoing severe farming challenges.

He mentioned on Okay Fm’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show that the maize plantations from Kintampo to Techiman and through to Techiman-Tia, Adrobaa, Yawmetwa and Tanom have all turned deserts; unable to produce food for supply.

“If we don’t take care, there will be shortage of maize in the country and the government should make the necessary arrangement for maize wherever possible to find,” he warned.

He again alluded the possibility of shortage of cassava in the country for the fact that as at now a sack of cassava has reached GH¢140 in Kumasi and its environs and in Accra; thus this kind of incident has not happened before in the country, posing a big issue for concern.

“Famine will break out May next year…I have suspended my Gari processing in order to get price for cassava because I have cassava farm. There are no cassava farms anywhere and I don’t understand why the country has gone bad this far”, he predicted.

He however asserted that the farmers in Brong Ahafo are blaming their inability to produce more cassava on the DKM investment which majority of them have invested their lifesavings but went bad for them.

“All these areas used to serve the country food items; Brong Ahafo is the food basket and if famine is coming to the region, then woe unto the entire country. 7 regions namely Central region, Western region, Greater Accra region, Volta region, Upper East, Upper West and Northern region are net importer of food in Ghana; these regions will suffer next year and Ashanti region and Eastern region will be affected as well,” he narrated.

He however mentioned Brong Ahafo to be the only region which does not import food from other regions in the country; thus finding the region in that state of anguish poses a serious threat which the country is going through, adding that next year will be tough.

Mr. Kusi Boafo therefore advised Ghanaians to spend their money wisely in this Christmas festivity as pressure will be high for the rising household items especially on food items.

He feared saying “if we begin to experience food inflation coupled with other non-food items then, I tell you honestly that our inflation may hit 18 or 19 percent somewhere next year if care is not taken; I foresee this clearly”.