The Government of Ghana has launched a project called the “Feed Ghana Program.” This program aims to revolutionize agriculture in Ghana by encouraging local production to reduce the country’s heavy dependence on food imports. This strategy also aims to create a large number of jobs in the agricultural and agro-industrial sectors, thus contributing to the country’s economic expansion.

National Initiative for Agriculture

The “Feed Ghana Program” is defined as a comprehensive strategy that brings together all initiatives and projects related to agriculture within the country. To achieve its objectives of food sovereignty and job creation, it is based on four fundamental pillars:

• Significantly increasing food production through various specific tactics. Encourage the use of modern and sustainable agricultural techniques to improve yields.
• Strengthen rural infrastructure to promote market access and optimize logistics.
• Develop agro-industrial zones throughout Ghana to enhance the value of agricultural products and add value.

A Community Drive

A key element of this project is the active engagement of communities, families, and institutions in agricultural production. The government is particularly encouraging households to grow common vegetables such as tomatoes, chili peppers, and eggplant. The objective of this initiative is to significantly reduce household food costs and increase food independence at the local level.

President John Mahama emphasized the need for this approach to improve the daily lives of Ghanaians. In addition, the President unveiled an innovative initiative for educational institutions with vacant land. These institutions will be encouraged to produce food and engage in livestock farming.

“All schools with available land will be encouraged to use it for agricultural purposes: growing vegetables to improve school meals, and raising cows, goats, or sheep to provide meat for students,” stated President Mahama.

Food sovereignty at the center of national priorities

This initiative comes at a time when Ghana remains largely dependent on food imports. In 2024, total imports amounted to 2.5 billion USD. The country’s food imports are dominated by cereals, oils, meat, sugar, and fish, which account for more than half.

However, favorable signs are beginning to emerge. Following a steady increase since September 2024, inflation in this area has seen a slight decline, falling from 28.1% in February to 26.5% in March 2025.

The government, aware of these challenges, is placing food sovereignty at the center of its national priorities. In the 2025 budget, a significant amount was specifically dedicated to the agricultural industry through the Economic Transformation Agenda (ETA).