3 Million Ghanaians Face Food Insecurity Despite Stable Consumption

About three million people in Ghana remain vulnerable to food insecurity despite generally stable national consumption levels, a new report by the Ghana Statistical Service has revealed.

The findings are contained in the Mobile Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (mVAM) Food Insecurity Vulnerability Report covering October to December 2025, which was released on April 22.

Presenting the report, the Government Statistician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, said about 91 per cent of households, representing nearly 30 million people, recorded acceptable food consumption levels, but cautioned that the national picture conceals significant pockets of vulnerability.

“Beneath this national average, about three million people remain vulnerable, facing poor or borderline food consumption,” Dr Iddrisu said.

The survey, conducted in collaboration with the World Food Programme with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency, covered approximately 9,000 households across all 16 regions.

Dr Iddrisu indicated that many households are increasingly resorting to coping mechanisms to meet their food needs, signalling underlying stress despite overall stability.

“About one in three households is adopting medium to high coping strategies, while nearly one in four households is already in crisis or emergency coping,” he said.

He explained that such measures include reducing meal quality, borrowing, selling productive assets and cutting expenditure on health and education.

“This is not sustainable. It means many households are managing today by sacrificing tomorrow,” he added.

The report highlights stark regional disparities, particularly across the northern belt, where food insecurity remains most pronounced.

Nearly 40 per cent of households in the Northern, North East, Upper East and Upper West regions recorded poor or borderline food consumption levels, underscoring persistent structural challenges in those areas.

The findings also point to the influence of education and income sources on food security. Households without formal education are up to ten times more vulnerable than those with tertiary education, while families dependent on smallholder agriculture face risks about six times higher than those engaged in trading or savings-based activities.

Despite these pressures, only about 1.5 per cent of households reported receiving any form of assistance, raising concerns about the reach and effectiveness of existing social protection interventions.

Dr Iddrisu called for improved targeting of support programmes to reach the most at-risk populations.

“Targeting must improve. We must focus on high-risk regions and vulnerable groups with precision,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of early intervention to prevent further deterioration.

“If we wait until consumption collapses, we are already late,” he cautioned.

Chairing the event, former Government Statistician, Dr Philomena Efua Nyarko, underscored the importance of data-driven policymaking in addressing food insecurity.

“Policies are only as effective as the evidence that informs them. When reliable data is available, governments are better able to anticipate challenges and respond to emerging risks,” she said.

Dr Nyarko added that apparent stability among some households may mask deeper vulnerabilities.

“Many households that appear stable remain vulnerable, often relying on coping strategies to sustain that stability,” she noted.

While the report stops short of describing the situation as a nationwide crisis, it warns that rising vulnerability requires urgent and targeted action.

“The real danger is not just what the data shows today, but what happens if we delay and fail to act with precision,” Dr Iddrisu said.

He added that the Service would continue to provide timely data to inform policy decisions and interventions.

“Food security is not just about feeding people today. It is about protecting livelihoods, preserving dignity and securing the future of this country,” he said.

Source: Graphic

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