Ghanaian farmers are facing a severe crisis as their harvests of maize and rice rot in storage, despite national economic success. An estimated 200,000 metric tonnes of produce remained unsold by November 2025, according to the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana. This situation is impacting over five million smallholder farmers who are unable to recover costs from loans taken out for planting and fertilizer.
The crisis stems from a flood of imported food products that are artificially cheap. A strong Ghanaian cedi has made imports more affordable than locally produced goods. At the same time, the government's open-door policy on import permits has allowed foreign food to dominate the market. Many institutions that would typically purchase from local farmers are instead opting for these cheaper imported alternatives, effectively shutting out Ghanaian producers from their own market.
This agricultural distress stands in stark contrast to Ghana's recent macroeconomic achievements. The nation celebrated a significant drop in inflation to 5.4 percent by December 2025, a sharp decline from 23.8 percent a year earlier. The Ghana cedi also made a remarkable comeback, ranking as one of the world's top-performing currencies in 2025, appreciating by approximately 35 percent against the US dollar. These figures are presented by government officials and the International Monetary Fund as clear evidence of Ghana's economic recovery.
However, experts warn that this economic success story masks significant problems for the agricultural sector. Economist Professor Godfred Bokpin noted that an overly strong cedi can make imports cheaper than local goods, hurting domestic production. He stated, 'A strong cedi may not work effectively in our favour because we have a weak productive sector.' The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana reported that over 1.2 million metric tonnes of rice, maize, and soya beans were unsold, with the value of unsold paddy rice alone reaching GHS 5 billion (US$330 million).
The implications for Ghana's food security and rural economy are significant. The broken supply chain means farmers cannot sell their produce to fund the next planting season, trapping them in a cycle of debt. The government's 'Feed Ghana Programme' has also been criticized for distributing hybrid maize seeds that failed to germinate, further exacerbating farmers' losses. Policymakers must address the disconnect between positive national economic indicators and the harsh realities faced by those who feed the nation. The current trajectory threatens not only farmers' livelihoods but also the stability of Ghana's agricultural sector.