Ghana has recorded a nearly 22 percent reduction in the number of people experiencing food insecurity over a three-year period, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, disclosed that the number of food-insecure persons reduced significantly within the period, although he cautioned that the progress remains vulnerable to economic and seasonal changes.

“Between 2022 Q1 and 2025 Q3, the number of food-insecure people in Ghana declined from about 16 Million to 12.5 Million, a reduction of nearly 22%. The incidence of food insecurity stood at 38.1% in 2025 Q3 down from 41.1% in 2025 Q2 and 38.7% in 2024 Q3 (a year earlier). Progress is real but remains fragile,” he stated.

The latest data released by the Service shows that food insecurity levels have generally declined between the first quarter of 2022 and the third quarter of 2025, reflecting gradual improvements in household access to food across the country.

The figures indicate that while the overall trend shows improvement, food insecurity levels have experienced fluctuations within the period under review.

Mr. Alhassan Iddrisu added that the report highlights significant disparities in how food insecurity affects different household groups, stressing that household characteristics remain a critical factor.

He explained that female-headed households, particularly those in rural areas, continue to experience higher levels of food insecurity. He noted that households with children, especially those caring for both children and elderly persons, face the greatest vulnerability.

Mr. Iddrisu further raised concern about the strong link between food insecurity and child nutrition, indicating that the data shows worrying trends across the country.

He stated that households with underweight, wasted, or stunted children record food insecurity rates exceeding 44 percent nationally. He added that the situation is more severe among rural female-headed households with underweight children, where food insecurity levels exceed 80 percent.

Touching on education, Mr. Iddrisu noted that educational attainment plays a key role in reducing vulnerability to food insecurity. He revealed that nearly half of food-insecure households have no formal education, compared to only 15 percent among households with tertiary education.

He also highlighted what he described as a growing overlap between food insecurity, poverty, and unemployment, referring to it as a “triple burden.” According to him, between the second and third quarters of 2025, the number of people who were food insecure, poor, and unemployed increased by 9.4 percent, representing 19,455 persons.

Mr. Iddrisu stressed that the findings underscore the need for targeted policy interventions. He recommended directing resources towards high-burden regions with solutions tailored to local conditions, expanding nutrition-sensitive social protection programmes, particularly for female-headed households and families with children and the elderly, and strengthening the link between food security, employment, and skills development, especially for young people and rural communities.

He further emphasised the importance of investing in education and child nutrition as key measures for reducing long-term vulnerability. He also called for sustained investment in high-frequency data systems to improve targeting and enable early and effective interventions.

Mr. Iddrisu expressed appreciation to households that participated in the survey, field officers who collected the data, the Government of Ghana and the World Bank for funding support, development partners, the media, and staff of the Ghana Statistical Service for their contribution towards the report.

He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to producing reliable data to guide policy decisions, noting that evidence-based data remains essential for saving time, resources, and lives while supporting Ghana’s development planning.

President John Dramani Mahama says the government is preparing to introduce a significant new policy called the School Agriculture Programme, designed to boost the nation’s food security by giving students hands-on training in agriculture.

Addressing the National Farmers’ Day event in Ho, the Volta Regional capital, President Mahama explained that the initiative will mandate every secondary and tertiary institution to run its own school farm.

“We are asking all secondary schools and tertiary education institutions to have a school farm. They can produce their own chickens; they can raise livestock such as goats, sheep, and even larger animals like cattle. They can also grow vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, okra, and other crops they consume,” he said.

The President noted that a National School Agriculture Coordinator has already been designated to lead the programme and oversee its nationwide rollout.

He added that he is confident the initiative will improve hands-on learning for students while helping to boost the country’s overall food production.

The School Agriculture Programme is expected to promote self-sufficiency in schools while encouraging young people to develop greater interest in agriculture.

Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman has revealed that the government will soon engage five thousand (5,000) graduates in agriculture and veterinary science to support farmers nationwide.

The initiative is aimed at closing the gap between research findings and practical application in the agricultural sector.

She made this known at the 2025 Asogli Yam Festival held in the Volta Region on October 4, 2025.

The annual festival, also called Asogli Te Za, began on July 14 and concluded on October 5, under the theme “Together in Honesty and Purpose, We Build a Just, Peaceful and Prosperous Nation.”

The celebration highlighted the importance of Unity, transparency and national growth.

It featured lively cultural performances, drumming and traditional dances.

It sought to foster peace and togetherness, preserve cultural values, and boost tourism and local business growth in the Volta Region.

It brought Asogli people together to honour the yam harvest and highlight their enduring culture.

A colourful durbar took place on October 4, to climax the entire festival.

“Indeed, the Volta Region is showing her potential to be our agricultural backbone under the Feed Ghana Programme. With an irrigation system that is underutilized and ready to be rehabilitated, the region is ideally placed to scale up crop production, especially rice and yam”.

The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli state, Togbe afede XIV urged leaders including chiefs and politicians to show commitment to the development of the country. He says corruption is a bane of the country’s underdevelopment and wants people to embrace honesty for a United Ghana.

Meanwhile, in July this year, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, Her Excellency Imane Ouaadil, on July 28, handed over two thousand (2,000) tons of fertilizer, equivalent to 40,000 bags of fertilizer, to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the fertilizer was donated to the West African country by the Kingdom of Morocco during the official visit of Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa to Morocco last month as part of the two countries’ commitment to sustainable agriculture to enhance food security.

Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Setor Dumelo, received the donated fertilizers on behalf of the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku. He expressed gratitude to the Morrocan government for the donation. He assured that farmers will receive the fertilizers to aid crop production.

“Yesterday, 40,000 bags of fertilizer was donated to Ghana by the Kingdom of Morocco through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On behalf of my boss Hon Eric Opoku, I want to say a big thank you to Hon Ablakwa and Her Excellency Ouaadil for this kind gesture. We at the Ministry of Agriculture will ensure the fertilizers get straight to the deserving farmers as soon as possible,” he wrote in a post on the X platform on July 29.