Over 122,000 In Dire Straits
By Prince Ahenkorah
A grim report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Ghana has revealed that a staggering two million people in Ghana are grappling with acute food insecurity. This represents about 6% of the country’s population, with the situation deteriorating rapidly between June and August 2025.
According to the latest Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analysis, the numbers are even more alarming than last year. The current figures have nearly doubled since 2024, when roughly 1.05 million people faced similar hardship. The crisis has reached a critical point for over 122,000 individuals, who have been classified under a state of emergency.
Why The Crisis Is Worsening
So, what’s to blame for this spiraling crisis? The FAO points to a combination of factors, but the primary culprit seems to be the country’s macroeconomic woes. Soaring food and non-food inflation rates have made life unbearable for many, especially in the northern regions.
Northern Ghana, which includes the Northern, North-East, Savannah, Upper East, and Upper West regions, has been hit hardest. With an estimated 12% to 19% of the population here facing acute food insecurity, it’s clear the north is at the epicenter of this crisis.
The situation has been compounded by several years of poor rainfall. Dry spells in 2024 severely impacted crop production, especially in the north. Additionally, a string of poor cocoa harvests has crippled livelihoods in central and southern Ghana, further worsening food conditions.
Mixed Weather Signals For The Future
While the situation remains bleak, there are some mixed signals from the skies. In southern and central Ghana, the main maize harvest is ongoing and is expected to wrap up in September. Similarly, the 2025 rice harvest is scheduled for September and October.
The first rainy season, from March to July, started well, but was followed by worrying dry spells in July. These dry periods hit parts of the Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions particularly hard, likely leading to localized production shortfalls.
For the north, a promising start to the rainy season in May was followed by dry spells in July, which affected planting operations and crop establishment. Satellite data from the end of July already shows poor vegetation in northern parts of the Upper West Region and north-eastern parts of the Northern Region.
Looking ahead, weather forecasts for August suggest near-average rainfall across most of the country, which should help to improve soil moisture. However, the outlook for September is less optimistic, with below-average rainfall expected in most regions.
This could negatively impact crop yields, offering little hope for an immediate turnaround in the country’s food security situation.