Ghana is facing a severe crisis regarding post-harvest food losses. Agribusiness expert Daniel Fahene Acquaye highlighted that the nation loses enough food annually to sustain the Ashanti Region for over eighteen months. This alarming information was shared during the inaugural Regional Agribusiness Dialogue on October 10, 2025, in Kumasi.
Understanding Food Losses in Ghana
According to Mr. Acquaye, the annual post-harvest losses amount to approximately $1.9 to $2 billion. The Ashanti Region, home to over 5.4 million people as of the 2021 Census, consumes around GH₵14 billion ($1.2 billion) worth of food each year. This indicates that Ghana’s food waste could feed the entire region for a substantial period.
The Scale of the Crisis
- 30% of grains and 50% of fruits and vegetables harvested are lost.
- Inadequate storage and poor transportation are primary factors contributing to these losses.
Ghana’s agricultural sector is characterized by a troubling trend of continued food imports. As reported by the Ghana Statistical Service, the food import bill reached $2 billion in 2024, a figure that has stayed consistently high for five years. Key imports include rice, poultry, and processed foods.
Call for Agricultural Reform
During the dialogue, Mr. Acquaye warned that the ongoing importation of food amidst significant losses is not sustainable. He emphasized the necessity for improved financing within the agricultural sector.
Creating the AgriFund
Stakeholders have long called for an AgriFund dedicated to financing critical agricultural investments. These include:
- Storage facilities
- Processing infrastructure
- Irrigation systems
- Logistics improvements
Currently, agricultural lending in Ghana is disappointingly low, making up less than 5% of total bank credit.
National Agribusiness Policy Development
The Kumasi meeting was a critical step toward forming Ghana’s first National Agribusiness Policy. This initiative aims to unify fragmented agricultural efforts and promote sector growth. Organized by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, in collaboration with various stakeholders, the dialogue seeks to gather grassroots input for this comprehensive policy.
Collaboration and Industry Input
Industry leaders, including Hayfron Aboagye from PwC Ghana, reiterated the need for greater collaboration and private sector involvement. Despite the nation’s rich agricultural potential, only about 7 million of the 13 million hectares of arable land are cultivated, pointing to a significant opportunity for growth.
A Commitment to Change
This dialogue in Kumasi followed a National Agribusiness Dialogue held in Accra in July 2025, attended by President John Dramani Mahama. This earlier meeting reinforced Ghana’s commitment to establishing agribusiness as a cornerstone for employment, food security, and overall national prosperity.
Experts at the recent dialogue stress that with food losses nearly equating the entire food import bill, decisive and collaborative action is urgently needed to alleviate the crisis.
