Ghana is working to boost its domestic grain production to reduce imports and enhance food security. Despite challenges like climate change and post-harvest losses, initiatives like “Planting for Food and Jobs” and successful local wheat trials are driving progress. In an interview with Miller Magazine, Emily Afaribea Boahen, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Grains Council, discusses the ongoing efforts to transform the country’s grain industry and its growing role in West Africa’s grain trade.
Ghana’s grain industry is at a crossroads, facing challenges and opportunities that could shape the future of agriculture in the country. As the country continues to rely heavily on imports, particularly for rice and wheat, domestic production faces numerous challenges—ranging from climate change to post-harvest losses.
Emily Afaribea Boahen, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Grains Council
Emily Afaribea Boahen, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Grains Council, underscores the importance of boosting local grain production to reduce Ghana’s dependence on imports. “Maize, rice, sorghum, and millet are the backbone of Ghana’s grain sector. However, the sector faces difficulties such as inadequate access to quality seeds and the growing impacts of climate change,” she notes. Climate challenges, particularly droughts in the Northern Savannah regions, have taken a toll on grain yields, exacerbating food insecurity.
Despite these challenges, Ghana’s grain industry is showing signs of resilience and growth. The country’s growing middle class is fueling an increase in rice and wheat-based food products like pizza and noodles. At the same time, initiatives like ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ and the potential for domestic wheat production are laying the foundation for a more self-sufficient future. As Ghana invests in infrastructure and production capacity, the country’s role as a key grain transit hub for West Africa is becoming more crucial.
To find out more about the challenges and opportunities affecting Ghana’s grain industry, we spoke to Emily Afaribea Boahen, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Grains Council.
Can you briefly introduce Ghana Grains Council (GCC)? What is the primary mission of the GGC, and how does it support grain farmers, traders, and processors in Ghana?
Ghana Grains Council (GGC) is a private sector-led membership association established about 15 years ago (2010). We bring together a diverse group of stakeholders representing every link of the grain and legumes value chain in Ghana including; farmers, aggregators, traders, fertilizer and agro-inputs dealers, importers and exporters, warehouse owners and operators, collateral managers, insurance companies, banks and non-banks financial institutions and other companies which work impact on the Ghanaian grain industry.
It is a body formed by leaders in the grain business and our mandate and activities represent the interests of members to intervene in the grains value chain to improve productivity, quality, and greater commercialization of the industry.
Our core objectives are to:
- Develop advocacy capacity – specifically lobby for favorable government policies towards the grain industry.
- Initiate and develop Warehouse Receipt System (WRS). The WRS certifies and enforces agreed standards for the grains industry.
- Facilitate trainings, workshops and conferences for stakeholders to improve current standards and business environment within the value chain.
- Facilitate the wide distribution of market prices.
- Facilitate institutional sales for quality grain that meets agreed industry standards.
- Facilitate an arbitration panel in case of stakeholder disputes.
The vision of GGC is to become the leading industry association supporting the competitiveness of West Africa grain industry. The mission of GGC is: to facilitate grain and legume crops (pulses) value chain efficiencies through provision of strategic value-added services including warehouse receipt, training and capacity building, provision of marketing information and other value-added services, including market linkages and policy change interventions to the agricultural industry.
Which grains are the most significant in Ghana’s agricultural economy, and how have their production and trade evolved in recent years?
Maize, rice, sorghum and millet are the 4 major grain crops in Ghana. Maize is an important food crop in Ghana, accounting for more than 50 percent of the total cereal production but is production is predominantly done under rain-fed conditions by poorly resourced smallholder farmers. Ghana increased its maize production of 2.9 million metric tons in 2019 to 3.3 million metric tons in 2022. It is a staple food crop consumed in almost every household dishes and recipes. It is also the main ingredient for animal feed especially in the poultry industry.
Rice is becoming an increasingly prominent part of the Ghanaian diet, especially in urban areas due to its convenience. Per capita rice consumption was approximately 52.1 kg in 2021. Imports currently constitute 60% of the rice consumed in Ghana, making the country vulnerable to global market fluctuations.
Ghana’s rice imports rose from about 708,000 MT in 2020 to 830,000 MT in 2022, while maize imports increased from around 9,500 MT to 85,000 MT in the same period. (Source: SRID)
Sorghum production in 2022 and 2023 were over 400,000 metric tons, meeting 85% of the country demand. It is projected that by 2028, Ghana will be self sufficient in sorghum production to feed household and brewery industry demands.
What are the biggest challenges facing Ghana’s grain industry today, from production to market access?
a) Inadequate access to improved high yielding seeds and agro-chemicals
Most of grain farmers in Ghana are smallholders with insufficient source of income to invest in their farming. Thereby resulting in low yields of their produce.
b) Climate change and drought conditions
Climate change is an existential threat to agriculture across Africa, and Ghana is no exception. In recent years, droughts have become more frequent and severe, with devastating effects on grain production, particularly in the Northern Savannah areas.
In 2023 and 2024, drought conditions affected 1.85 million hectares of agricultural land in Ghana, resulting in crop losses amounting to GH₵22.2 billion ($1.444 billion USD) in revenue. The Northern Savannah regions, which are responsible for a significant portion of Ghana’s maize, millet, sorghum, and rice, were hit hardest. Maize yields fell by 35%, rice production by 25%, and millet and sorghum yields has dropped by 20%.
These droughts disproportionately affect smallholder farmers, who often lack the resources to adapt to changing weather patterns. The drought triggered a rise in food prices nationwide, with the cost of maize increasing by 20% and rice by 18% between 2022 and 2023.
c) Post-harvest losses and market access
Post-harvest losses in the grain sector remain alarmingly high, with estimates suggesting that 30-40% of grains are lost due to inadequate storage, transportation, and processing facilities. These losses reduce the profitability of farming and contribute to food insecurity.
To mitigate these losses, Ghana must invest in better threshing machines, storage facilities, and transportation infrastructure. Additionally, expanding access to structured trading platforms will enable farmers to secure better prices and enhance market access.
How do you see domestic demand for grains shifting in Ghana? Are there any emerging consumption trends?
The taste of the Ghanaian consumer has not changed that much. Maize, rice, sorghum, millet and wheat (flour) continue to be the major cereals grain consumed in Ghana. Because of an emerging middle class in Ghana, the consumption of dishes made from rice and wheat (pizza, noodles etc) is increasing.
What steps is the government taking to boost domestic grain production to reduce Ghana’s reliance on imports? What actions can be taken to ensure the long-term sustainability of domestic production?
The government of Ghana has embarked on several program such as Planting for Food and Jobs, Youth in Agriculture, and others to reduce the reliance of imports especially for rice and poultry which constitute more than 60% of the country demand. Recently, the governemt also anonuce its plans to start the production of wheat in Ghana. Field trials by research institutions have been successful, and they now want to commercialize wheat production locally.
Ghana is strategically located with access to marine transport, which could position the country as a key player in regional grain trade. How important is Ghana’s role as a potential grain transit point for landlocked countries in West Africa, and what strategies are in place to capitalize on this opportunity?
Ghana is normally refered to as the Gateway to West Africa because of our strategic location and also the peaceful political environment the country enjoys as compared to other African countries. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have been using the Sea ports of Ghana for their imports. Investment in infrastructure at the ports to cater for the increasing imports volumes will be beneficial.
Can you give some insights about wheat flour consumption in Ghana? How is the rise in urbanization and changing dietary habits affecting the flour demand in Ghana?
At the moment, Ghana imports all of the wheat it consumes. Bread is the main wheat product consumed in Ghana. Over 60-70% of wheat importation is sourced from Canada and Turkey. Ghana imports more than US$230 million worth of wheat anually. And with the emerging taste for pizzas and noodles, wheat imports is expected to grow at 6% this year.