Ghana Launches $3.5 Billion AgriConnect Compact to Transform Agriculture and Cut Food Imports

The Government of Ghana, in a strategic move to overhaul the nation’s agricultural landscape, has officially launched the AgriConnect Compact. Developed in collaboration with the World Bank Group, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), this ambitious initiative aims to mobilize $3.5 billion in investments between 2026 and 2030. The primary objectives of the Compact are to strengthen national food security, create over 2.6 million jobs by 2035, and significantly reduce the country’s heavy reliance on food imports. By targeting key value chains—specifically rice, maize, cocoa, oil palm, and poultry—the government seeks to modernize the agri-food system and improve nutrition for nearly three million Ghanaians.

A central pillar of this transformation is achieving rice self-sufficiency, a goal reinforced during the recent West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable in Accra. Food and Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku highlighted a new import quota policy designed to stimulate domestic growth. Under this policy, rice importers must establish direct partnerships with local producers to qualify for import permits, an approach intended to boost local production without inflating consumer prices. Ghana currently meets only 56% of its rice demand; the government aims to close this gap to save an estimated $2.1 billion in import costs over the next decade and generate 200,000 jobs within the rice sector alone. This aligns with a broader ECOWAS regional ambition to reach full rice self-sufficiency by 2035.

Beyond staples like rice, the initiative addresses critical inefficiencies in the agribusiness value chain, such as the persistent crisis in the tomato sector. Ghana currently faces a massive supply deficit, producing only 380,000 tonnes of tomatoes against an annual demand exceeding 800,000 tonnes. Compounding this issue is a post-harvest loss rate of 30% to 45% due to inadequate infrastructure. Industry leaders, including Maame Adwoa Asiedu of the homegrown brand Ntoswura, have emphasized the urgent need for investment in cold chain logistics and local processing facilities. By converting surplus harvests into high-quality local products, the sector can better compete with subsidized foreign imports and ensure economic sustainability for local farmers.

Vice-President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has underscored that the success of the AgriConnect Compact depends on a fundamental shift from subsistence to commercial production. The initiative is not merely about increasing crop yields but focuses on creating integrated value chains that provide market access and employment across the entire agricultural spectrum. While the $3.5 billion target represents a significant commitment, its realization will require seamless cooperation between the private sector, development partners, and the government. If successfully implemented, the Compact will provide a resilient blueprint for economic stability, helping Ghana mitigate trade deficits and protect its economy from global supply shocks.