Govt Moves to Tackle $3bn Post-Harvest Losses
The Government of Ghana has intensified efforts to address an estimated $3 billion in annual post-harvest losses, with renewed emphasis on public-private partnerships to strengthen the agricultural value chain, improve farmer incomes, and enhance national food security.
The call was made by Eric Opoku, whose remarks were delivered on his behalf by Dr Solomon Gyan Ansah at the maiden Agricultural Fair organised by the General Agricultural Workers Union in Accra.
Held under the theme “From Farm to You: Decent Work Today, Food Security Tomorrow,” the event brought together farmers, agribusiness leaders, labour groups and policymakers to examine persistent structural challenges within the sector.
Government officials underscored that agriculture remains a cornerstone of Ghana’s economic transformation agenda, employing a significant share of the population and sustaining rural livelihoods. However, they warned that fragmented interventions risk limiting productivity gains and undermining long-term food security.
While programmes in irrigation, mechanisation, input distribution and extension services have improved output in some areas, financing constraints and weak market linkages continue to restrict growth. Mr. Opoku stressed that improving labour conditions—including wages, safety standards and social protection—is essential to boosting productivity and sustaining the sector.
A major concern raised at the forum was the scale of post-harvest losses. According to Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, inefficiencies across storage, transportation and processing systems are costing the country nearly as much as its annual food import bill.
“These losses represent a critical economic gap,” he noted, adding that addressing them would significantly improve food availability and reduce import dependence.
To tackle the challenge, government is advancing plans to establish a national food buffer system and farmer service centres that will provide integrated support, including access to inputs, technical expertise and markets. Central to the strategy is the development of a one-million-metric-tonne modern storage system aimed at preserving produce and stabilising supply.
Officials emphasised that achieving this target will require substantial private sector involvement, particularly in financing and managing storage and logistics infrastructure. Financial institutions and agribusinesses have also been urged to develop tailored financing models that better serve smallholder farmers, who remain the backbone of production but often lack access to affordable credit.
Beyond infrastructure, the government is exploring policies to reduce production costs, including local fertiliser manufacturing, while also promoting the formalisation of agricultural labour systems.
Proposals for the creation of a Ghana Agriculture Services Authority are also under consideration to improve coordination, streamline implementation and enhance accountability across the sector.
Authorities maintain that a more integrated and partnership-driven approach will be critical to unlocking the full potential of Ghana’s agriculture, reducing waste, and building a more resilient and competitive food system.
