Ghana Faces Mounting Socio-Economic Pressures: From Chronic Food Insecurity to Critical Infrastructure Strains

Ghana is currently grappling with significant socio-economic challenges, highlighted by a staggering 12.5 million citizens—representing 38.1% of the population—facing food insecurity. According to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), while there was a slight improvement of 900,000 individuals between the second and third quarters of 2025, the overall trend since early 2024 shows an alarming increase in vulnerability. Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu of the GSS pointed to deep-seated structural inequalities, noting that female-headed households are disproportionately affected at a rate of 44.1%. Regional disparities also remain stark, with the Upper West Region suffering the most at a 55.9% food insecurity rate, prompting urgent calls for government intervention to stabilize the nation's nutritional needs.

In tandem with the food crisis, essential infrastructure in the Greater Accra Region is under severe strain. Ghana Water Limited (GWL) is currently engaged in high-level negotiations to restore water supply to Teshie-Nungua and surrounding areas following the shutdown of a major desalination plant in late 2025. The facility was closed due to a combination of maintenance issues and significant unpaid debts, forcing residents to rely on expensive private tankers. GWL Managing Director expressed optimism that ongoing talks involving the Ministries of Finance and Justice, alongside the plant’s shareholders, will yield a sustainable solution. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for February 19, 2026, to finalize the restoration of services to the affected communities.

The healthcare sector is facing its own set of critical hurdles, particularly at the Ridge Hospital in Accra. Obuobia Darko-Opoku, Administrator of the MahamaCares trust fund, recently issued an urgent appeal to Corporate Ghana for support after a facility assessment revealed a dire shortage of functioning medical equipment. Describing the hospital as being in a "critical condition," Darko-Opoku emphasized that the facility's ability to meet the capital's healthcare demands is being severely compromised by equipment failures. She has urged private organizations and individuals to partner with the trust fund for a comprehensive retooling of the hospital, offering transparent accounting and branding opportunities for donors who assist in the revitalization efforts.

Meanwhile, in the agricultural sector, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is working to maintain stability among cocoa farmers amid ongoing economic pressures. During a recent rally in Nkawie, COCOBOD officials urged farmers to exercise restraint, assuring them that payments for cocoa beans purchased in 2025 would be forthcoming. Farmers were specifically cautioned against selling government-supplied fertilizers to foreigners and were encouraged to resist the leasing of farmlands to illegal miners. By emphasizing proper farming techniques and productivity enhancements, officials hope to safeguard the cocoa industry, which remains a vital pillar of the Ghanaian economy during these turbulent times.