AfDB has granted Ghana US$18.8m to boost rice production. The grant will accelerate domestic rice production and reduce Ghana's US$500m annual rice import bill.
Ghana's milled rice production has increased from 685,000 metric tonnes in 2022 to 960,000 metric tonnes in 2025.
The grant was announced by Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, at the launch of the Regional West Africa Resilient Rice Value Chains Development Project in Tamale on November 10. Local production currently meets only 56% of national rice consumption, leaving a 44% supply gap filled through imports. Ghana spends between US$320m and US$500m annually on rice imports.
Rice has become Ghana's second most important cereal after maize, with rising population and urbanisation pushing demand ahead of domestic production. Consumption is projected at about 1.8 million metric tonnes for the 2025/26 season, driven largely by population growth and urbanisation.
Successive governments have tried to close the gap through programmes such as Planting for Food and Jobs and the National Rice Development Strategy II.
According to Eric Opoku, the grant will help achieve rice self-sufficiency by 2028. The African Development Bank's support is crucial in reducing Ghana's reliance on rice imports. Ghana's economy will benefit from the reduced import bill and increased domestic production.
The implications of this grant are significant, as it will help reduce Ghana's trade deficit and increase food security. The grant will also create jobs and stimulate economic growth in the agricultural sector. Ghana's rice production is expected to increase, reducing the country's reliance on imports and saving foreign exchange.