Ghana’s continued reliance on imported rice is placing pressure on foreign exchange and threatening food security.

To reverse the trend, the government, in partnership with development agencies, is scaling up interventions to boost local rice production and strengthen the agricultural value chain.

Central to this effort is the World Bank-supported Food System Resilience Programme, which prioritises improved irrigation, climate-smart agriculture, and stronger private sector participation.

In Ghana, projects such as the Kpong Irrigation Scheme are expected to support commercial farming, create jobs, and move the country closer to rice self-sufficiency.

Speaking during a working visit with a World Bank delegation to the Kpong Irrigation Scheme, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson said the government alone cannot create all the jobs needed for a growing population, stressing the importance of creating an enabling environment for private sector investment.

He noted that large-scale commercial agriculture, particularly rice production, offers a sustainable pathway to job creation and economic growth, adding that the government will provide the necessary support to unlock private capital.

The World Bank’s Division Director for Ghana, Robert Taliercio, said the Bank remains committed to partnering with Ghana to scale up infrastructure investments that will enable the private sector to grow, create jobs, and strengthen the economy.

He disclosed that discussions are underway on a new agriculture programme estimated at one billion dollars, aimed at supporting economic crops, expanding irrigation infrastructure, and improving rural road networks to ensure efficient movement of food and export crops.