Concerns over food insecurity in Ghana 2026 took center stage in Parliament as the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, assured lawmakers that the government is building food buffers and will rely on data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) to support vulnerable individuals across the country.
The assurance came during the 5th sitting of the 1st meeting of the 2nd session of the 9th Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, following a question from the member of Parliament for Damongo, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, on the rising threat of hunger.
Hon. Samuel Jinapor referenced a new Ghana Statistical Service report released today, which indicates that food insecurity in Ghana in 2026 has worsened, rising from 35.3 percent in 2024 to 38.1 percent in 2025.
According to the report, about 13 million Ghanaians are at risk of hunger this year, a development the MP described as alarming and contradictory to claims of national food self-sufficiency.
Hon. Jinapor questioned what assurances the minister could give to ensure that these 13 million people do not slip into hunger.
Responding to the concerns over food insecurity in Ghana in 2026, Hon. Eric Opoku said the government is not disputing the data provided by the GSS but is focused on targeted interventions.
“As we speak, we are building a food buffer,” the minister stated. “I will write to the Ghana Statistical Service to give us the locations of individuals that are food insecure so that from our buffer, we can supply them with food.”
He explained that identifying the geographical locations of affected individuals is critical to addressing food insecurity in Ghana in 2026 effectively.
“If we truly have 13 million people who are food insecure, we must know their locations so that we can make them food secure,” Hon. Opoku added.
The minister further revealed that significant financial resources are required to stabilize the food system, particularly in the rice sector.
“According to my technical team, we need no less than 600 million Ghana cedis to mop up excess food in the system, especially paddy rice.”
