Ghana Must Cut $2 Billion Food Import Bill – Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang Calls for Urgent Action

Ghana’s Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has called for urgent national action to reduce the country’s growing dependence on imported food, warning that Ghana spends over $2 billion annually on food imports that could easily be produced locally.

Speaking at the Norman Borlaug International Dialogue organized by the World Food Prize Foundation, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang described the situation as economically unsustainable and a major setback to Ghana’s agricultural and industrial development.

“Ghana spends over $2 billion annually to import food that can be produced locally. This must change,” she emphasized.

The Vice President underscored the need for a comprehensive policy shift to empower local farmers, invest in modern agricultural technology, and create sustainable value chains that support food security and job creation.

She further stressed that the overreliance on imported staples such as rice, poultry, and processed foods undermines Ghana’s capacity to achieve food self-sufficiency and exposes the economy to global market shocks.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang urged both the public and private sectors to collaborate in driving agricultural transformation, noting that the nation’s fertile lands, youthful population, and technological advancement offer immense potential for self-reliance.

Agricultural experts at the event supported the Vice President’s position, noting that strategic investment in irrigation, mechanization, and post-harvest management could significantly cut food imports within five years.

The call adds to growing public debate on Ghana’s food import dependency and the urgent need to strengthen local production, processing, and export capacity.

As Ghana marks another milestone in its economic recovery efforts, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s message serves as a clear reminder: food security begins at home