This write up is to give the background and the principal reasons for the introduction of the “Operation Feed Yourself Programme”.
Ghana became a recognized, independent country in 1957. While under the colonial rule of Great Britain, Ghana’s agricultural structure was engineered to produce lucrative crops palm oil in the 19th century and cocoa in the 20th century for the profit of the British mainland.
The living conditions in Ghana were harsh on Europeans, agriculture was not a significant presence and instead Ghanaian agriculture under British rule relied primarily on peasants.
Peasant populations in Ghana willingly collaborated with a system of export-oriented agriculture in exchange for the compensation provided by British rule.As a result, Ghana’s agricultural system leading up to Operation Feed Yourself was export-oriented and produced crops tailored for European rather than domestic tastes.
Kofi Abrefa Busia’s regime as Prime Minister immediately preceded the regime of Ignatius Kutu Acheampong and Operation Feed Yourself. Busia’s removal from office at the hands of Acheampong was strongly motivated by Ghana’s economic performance under Busia. Busia’s regime produced a decline in per capita production and per capita income without a proposed plan in response. Busia was also heavily reliant on aid from western countries, characteristic which was despised by Acheampong who hinged his regime on self-reliance.
Operation Feed Yourself was an agricultural program administered in Ghana under military general and head-of-state Ignatius Kutu Acheampong. This policy was initiated in February 1972 and remained until the end of Acheampong’s regime in 1978. Operation Feed Yourself aimed to increase levels of food crops produced in Ghana for domestic consumption.[2] Ideologically, the program was an attempt toward self-sufficiency.
Ultimately, Operation Feed Yourself failed to improve domestic food conditions in Ghana as local food crops remained scarce and price levels on these remained high.
Indeed, Ghana has seen a lot of creative ideas but time was not in favour of leaders who reign in those days.
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