News in brief: Ghana is projected to have 84% of its population able to afford food and non-food needs without resorting to unsustainable means, indicating high good food security compared to Nigeria.
The World Bank says that 84% of people in Ghana will be able to afford food and non-food needs in 2023 without resorting to unusual and unsustainable means to do so. Compared to Nigeria, which has about 54% projected in that bracket, the West African country is doing well when it comes to food security.
Ghana’s closest neighbours are also expected to see high numbers of people (above 60%) with ‘minimal’ food insecurity problems, which means that they can afford food easily.
| Country | % Minimally Food Insecure |
| Burkina Faso | 62 |
| Ivory Coast | 79 |
| Togo | 70 |
The institution projection claims that Ghana will lift one percent of its population out of a ‘stressed’ state of food insecurity in the later half of 2023. It had calculated the previous minimally food insecure people to be 83% and the stressed populace to be 13%. In a stressed state of food insecurity, the people can afford food but will have to undertake unsustainable actions to afford non-food expenses.
Meanwhile, 4% or more than 1.3 million of people in the country is projected to be in a state of food crisis for the rest of 2023. They may have to choose between food and non-food purchases, they will experience food consumption gaps like malnutrition, and they may part with essential livelihood assets to afford food.
Overall, Ghana has been improving its food security situation over the years. In 2021, the World Bank said that there were 11.4 million people that were between moderately or severely food insecure in the country. The number was 11.6 million and 11.8 million in 2018 and 2017, respectively.
As one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, Ghana is placing emphasis on agriculture to grow. It has focused on helping farmers with inputs, financing, and other interventions. These moves have contributed to improving food security. Also, its location as ‘the gateway to Africa’ allows it benefit from international trading.
