Ghana’s food imports hit ¢38.9bn in 2024

Ghana’s food import bill ballooned to GH¢38.9 billion in 2024—an increase of GH¢12.2 billion over the previous year—raising fresh concerns about the country’s overreliance on imported staples, despite making significant strides in food exports.

The data, released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in its latest annual trade report, show that while food exports rose to GH¢46.1 billion, up GH¢12.6 billion from the previous year, the rising cost and volume of imports continue to signal major weaknesses in Ghana’s domestic food production and processing capacity.

According to the report, the most heavily imported items include:

• Rice – GH¢3.0 billion
• Cereal grains – GH¢3.4 billion
• Frozen poultry – GH¢2.6 billion
• Animal parts (offal, guts) – GH¢2.7 billion
• Sugar – GH¢2.4 billion

These five commodities alone accounted for more than a quarter of the entire food import bill, revealing a structural gap in Ghana’s ability to meet local food demand with local supply.

Cocoa Exports Continue to Anchor Trade Balance

Ghana’s strong performance in food exports was driven largely by the cocoa sector. In 2024, raw cocoa beans generated GH¢14.9 billion, while cocoa paste and butter fetched GH¢6.6 billion and GH¢3.2 billion, respectively.

Other key export earners included:

• Cashew nuts – GH¢2.7 billion
• Tuna – GH¢2.2 billion
• Shea oil – GH¢1.1 billion

While these exports have helped maintain a positive trade balance in the food sector, analysts say the benefits are undermined by the country’s dependence on imports for everyday food items.

Trade Gains Undermined by Domestic Vulnerabilities

Experts warn that the surge in food imports reflects not only rising consumption but also persistent vulnerabilities in Ghana’s agricultural base. Staples like rice, grains, meat, and sugar—products that could potentially be grown or processed locally—continue to be sourced from abroad.

In addition, more than half of Ghana’s food imports in key categories such as grains, cereals, meats, and sugar came from just three countries, making the country highly vulnerable to external market shocks, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain disruptions.

Call for Policy Shift and Investment

Agricultural economists and food security analysts are urging the government to view the rising food import bill as a wake-up call. They argue that without targeted investments in local food production, storage infrastructure, value chain development, and agribusiness financing, Ghana risks eroding the gains made in food exports.

Improving domestic capacity in rice production, livestock, and sugar refining, they say, is critical to cushioning the economy against external shocks and ensuring national food security.

Conclusion

Ghana’s 2024 trade data underscore a paradox: while excelling in high-value food exports, the country remains dependent on foreign markets for basic staples. If left unchecked, this imbalance could increase exposure to global price volatility and place strain on the local economy and household food security.