The Russian Embassy in Ghana has expressed concern over news circulating in the media that the country is responsible for the rising food prices on the African continent.
In a tweet on Friday, the Embassy accused the Ghanaian media of “carbon-copying” the Western mainstream trying to persuade local readers that the Russian special military operation in Ukraine is to blame for the increase in bread prices.
“Journalists shyly keep silent that food and energy prices began to rapidly rise already in early 2020 due to systemic miscalculations of the financial and economic policies of Western countries during the coronavirus pandemic.
“In their desire to blame Russia the hapless experts have gone so far as to ignore the obvious facts. So, the thesis is being actively promoted, that allegedly because of Russia’s actions, the volume of grain crops in market turnover has decreased. At the same time, Moscow allegedly does not allow conducting grain operations, which is why, as they say, bread is becoming more expensive on store shelves,” parts of the tweet read.
In April, the Russian government absolved itself of any blame for the current challenges, bringing the global food value chain to its knees.
According to the Russian government, the current hardship is a result of high demand and rising prices of food, raw materials, and transportation services as part of post-Covid-19 recovery.
Vice President Dr Bawumia while addressing Ghanaians on the state of the economy in April, noted that aside from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war is adversely affecting the Ghanaian economy.
He noted that the prices of food supplies have shot up because the two countries that are exporters of commodities such as wheat, and grains, have withheld supply due to the crisis.
“The increase in commodity prices has been exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Russia and Ukraine together account for 30% of global wheat exports; the longer the conflict ensues, the greater will be the disruption to global food supplies. The conflict is also likely to slow down global growth.
“According to the AfDB, the price of wheat has shot up by 62% since the war began, the price of fertilizer is up by 300%, and the price of maize is up by 36%. Here in Ghana, some 60% of our total imports of iron ore and steel are from Ukraine; Russia accounts for some 30% of Ghana’s imported grains, 50% of flour, and 39% of fertilizer.
“So we are directly affected by the Russian-Ukraine war. Unfortunately, we do not know when it would be over,” he said.
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