Ghana’s agricultural sector has been dealt a significant blow, with drought and dry spells affecting 1.8 million hectares of farmland, leading to crop losses worth GH¢22.2 billion between 2023 and 2024.

This was revealed by the Ghana Grains Council (GGC), which emphasized the severe impact on maize, millet, sorghum, and rice production in the Northern and Savannah regions—areas that account for a significant portion of the country's grain supply.According to the GGC, maize yields have dropped by 35%, while rice production is down by 25%. Millet and sorghum yields also saw a 20% reduction.

Emily Boahen, Executive Secretary of the GGC, outlined these alarming figures while addressing stakeholders at the Ghana Grains Forum in Accra, warning that grains—particularly maize—are critical to Ghana's economy and must be prioritized.

alone constitutes half of the country’s total cereal production, with over two million smallholder farmers depending

on it for their livelihoods,” Boahen said. However, she stressed that the grain sector faces numerous challenges beyond climate impacts, including low productivity, limited access to inputs, and global market fluctuations.Climate change has emerged as a significant disruptor, with the GGC warning that continued drought conditions pose an existential threat to the grain industry.

In addition, illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as galamsey, have exacerbated the problem by degrading large areas of arable land and polluting key water bodies.Ghana has lost approximately 1.46 million hectares of tree cover over the past two decades, much of it due to galamsey.

This environmental degradation has made farming even more challenging for the nation's smallholder farmers, compounding the challenges posed by weather unpredictability.Adding to the sector’s woes, post-harvest losses remain alarmingly high. GGC estimates that 30-40% of grains are lost annually due to inadequate storage, transportation, and processing facilities.

These inefficiencies reduce farm profitability and undermine food security efforts. Boahen emphasized that improving rural infrastructure—such as roads, storage facilities, and market platforms—could significantly reduce these losses and improve farmers' access to local and international markets.

sector also grapples with limited access to finance, making it

difficult for smallholder farmers to scale up operations and adopt more sustainable practices. Boahen called for greater investment in research and development, as well as stronger regional collaborations to build resilience within the grain sector.

The Ghana Grains Forum, held under the theme “Climate Change and Sustainable Food Security: Collaborative Responses to Ghana’s Grain Crisis,” provided a platform for experts to discuss the multiple crises facing the sector. Among those present were Professor Irene Susana Egyir, Dean of the School of Agriculture at the University of Ghana, agriculturalist Professor Abu Sakara, and Agri-Impact CEO Daniel Fahene Acquaye.

Participants at the Forum called for greater emphasis on sustainable farming practices to build resilience against future climate shocks. However, stakeholders also acknowledged that while the government’s ban on grain exports is a necessary measure to safeguard local food supplies, it could negatively affect the competitiveness of Ghanaian grain producers on the international market.

The GGC is urging the government to increase investments in the agricultural sector, particularly in rural infrastructure and farmer support systems. Boahen noted that addressing the grain sector’s challenges will require a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including policymakers, development partners, and the private sector.