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Ghana Faces Deepening Food Price Crisis: IEA Survey

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2026/02/12 .. aces-deepening-food-price-crisis-iea-survey.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Thursday, February 12th 2026 at 4:46 GMT by Ghanaweb.com
      Locales:

Accra, Ghana - February 12th, 2026 - A new survey released by the Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) has revealed a deepening food price crisis in Ghana, with a concerning 70% of citizens expressing significant worry over the escalating cost of essential food items. The findings, published yesterday, February 11th, 2026, highlight a growing wave of economic anxiety impacting households across the nation and demand urgent attention from policymakers.

The IEA survey paints a stark picture of the daily struggles faced by Ghanaians. For many families, a substantial and increasing portion of their income is now dedicated solely to purchasing food, leaving limited resources for other crucial needs such as healthcare, education, and housing. This squeeze on household budgets is particularly acute for vulnerable populations - the unemployed, daily wage earners, and families living in rural areas - who are disproportionately affected by rising prices.

Multiple Factors Fueling the Crisis

The report identifies a complex web of factors contributing to the current crisis. Persistent inflation remains a primary driver, eroding purchasing power and making even basic necessities increasingly unaffordable. While Ghana has historically battled inflationary pressures, the situation has been exacerbated by global economic headwinds. Disruptions in global supply chains, triggered by events like the ongoing geopolitical instability stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war, have led to shortages and increased transportation costs for key agricultural inputs and finished food products.

The war in Ukraine, specifically, has had a ripple effect on global food systems. Ukraine is a major exporter of grains, particularly wheat and corn, and the conflict has significantly reduced agricultural production and exports, leading to higher prices worldwide. Ghana, like many African nations, relies on imports of these grains, making it particularly vulnerable to price shocks.

Beyond these global factors, the IEA report also points to internal challenges within Ghana's agricultural sector. These include low agricultural productivity, inadequate storage facilities leading to post-harvest losses, and a heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture, making the sector susceptible to droughts and unpredictable weather patterns. Limited access to financing and modern farming techniques further hinders the ability of local farmers to increase yields and meet domestic demand.

Calls for Government Intervention and Policy Adjustments

The IEA is urging the Ghanaian government to implement a multifaceted strategy to address the food price crisis. The institute's recommendations center around three key pillars: boosting agricultural productivity, reducing reliance on food imports, and providing targeted support to vulnerable households.

Boosting agricultural productivity requires investment in research and development to introduce climate-resilient crops, providing farmers with access to affordable fertilizers and improved seeds, and improving irrigation infrastructure. Furthermore, the IEA suggests exploring opportunities to promote value addition within the agricultural sector, enabling farmers to process and package their produce, thereby increasing their income and reducing post-harvest losses.

Reducing reliance on food imports necessitates a focus on strengthening local production capacity. This could involve implementing policies to incentivize domestic agricultural production, promoting agro-processing industries, and investing in infrastructure to improve the efficiency of the food supply chain. Exploring regional trade agreements to secure affordable food supplies from neighboring countries could also provide a buffer against global price fluctuations.

Finally, the IEA emphasizes the importance of targeted support programs for low-income households. These could include cash transfers, food subsidies, and school feeding programs to ensure that vulnerable populations have access to adequate nutrition. Ensuring effective targeting and minimizing leakages are crucial to the success of such programs.

The survey has ignited a robust debate amongst economists and policymakers in Ghana. Many agree that a piecemeal approach will not suffice and that a comprehensive, long-term strategy is needed to build a more resilient and sustainable food system. The government is expected to unveil its response to the IEA's report in the coming days, detailing specific policy adjustments and initiatives aimed at tackling the issue. The nation awaits these announcements with hope that concrete action will be taken to alleviate the burden on its citizens and secure a more food-secure future for Ghana.