12.5 Million Ghanaians Face Food Insecurity Despite Recent Economic Gains
A staggering 12.5 million Ghanaians face food insecurity, according to the latest Quarterly Food Insecurity Report released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
While the nation has shown signs of macroeconomic recovery, the data paints a sobering picture of the daily reality for millions. The report, unveiled on February 10, 2026, indicates that 38.1% of the population struggles to access sufficient, nutritious food.
12.5 Million Ghanaians Face Food Insecurity: A Troubling Trajectory for National Nutrition
Although the third quarter (Q3) of 2025 saw a slight improvement with approximately 900,000 people moving out of the food-insecure bracket, the broader trend remains alarming. At its peak in Q2 2025, the number of people suffering reached 13.4 million.
Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu warned that this is more than a social issue. He noted that food insecurity is a structural constraint that threatens Ghana’s long-term human capital and economic productivity.
Regional Disparities and Vulnerable Households
The burden of hunger is not distributed equally across the country. The Upper West Region remains the hardest hit, with a staggering 55.9% prevalence rate. The Volta Region (50.1%) and the North East Region (45.9%) follow closely behind.
Conversely, the Oti Region recorded the lowest prevalence at 18.4%. This geographic divide highlights a critical need for targeted interventions rather than blanket national policies.
Household composition also plays a decisive role. The GSS report highlights a “triple burden” where 227,519 people are simultaneously food insecure, multidimensionally poor, and unemployed—a figure that grew by 9.4% in just one quarter.
12.5 Million Ghanaians Face Food Insecurity: The Gender Gap
Female-headed households are bearing the brunt of the crisis. Food insecurity in these homes peaked at 44.1% in early 2025, compared to 38.7% for male-headed households.
Experts attribute this 6.2 percentage point gap to persistent inequalities in income, limited employment opportunities, and the heavy burden of caregiving responsibilities placed on women.
“When children grow up without sufficient food, the consequences are permanent,” Dr. Iddrisu stated. “Stunted growth and diminished cognitive development today mean a weaker labor force tomorrow.”
Lingering Factors As 12.5 Million Ghanaians Face Food Insecurity
Several factors have converged to create this precarious situation:
- Climate Variability: Erratic rainfall and dry spells have disrupted traditional farming calendars, particularly in the northern “breadbasket” regions.
- Economic Volatility: While inflation has dipped from previous highs, food prices remain high relative to average household incomes.
- Infrastructure Gaps: A lack of post-harvest storage and poor rural road networks leads to significant food waste before produce can reach urban markets.
Market Impact and Public Reaction
The agricultural sector, which grew by 6.0% in 2025, has not yet translated these gains into affordable prices for the average consumer. Traders in Accra’s Makola Market report that while some commodity prices have stabilized, the “cost of a plate of food” remains out of reach for many.
Industry players are calling for a “reset” of the agricultural system. There is a growing demand for investments in climate-resilient seeds, irrigation, and decentralized storage facilities to stabilize the supply chain.
Government Response and the Path to 2030
In the 2026 Budget, the government outlined plans to prioritize “commercial agriculture and agribusiness” to create jobs and lower costs. The goal is to align with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger by 2030.
Dr. Iddrisu urged authorities to expand nutrition-sensitive social protection programs and link food security interventions directly to job creation.
As 12.5 million Ghanaians face food insecurity, the message from the GSS is clear: economic growth is meaningless if it does not put food on the tables of the most vulnerable.
