The site of a rice farm plagued by drought in the Volta Region.
The Ghana Rice Inter-Professional Body (GRIB) has revealed that rice production in the Volta Region of Ghana faces bleak consequences this year due to ongoing drought conditions which are disrupting production in some parts of the Region.
According to the body, farmers in the Akatsi North and South districts in the Volta Region have been gravely affected by poor rainfall patterns and are likely to lose their entire output for the 2021/2022 season.
“In Ketu South alone, over 700 hectares of rice have been lost to the drought. “The problem covers several areas including Kpoglu, Avalavi, Klenomadi and Avie in Ketu North, Akatsi in Akatsi South, Tongu Districts, Afadzato South District and Hohoe Municipal areas,” the President said.
This comes as a blow to the sector, which is an attempt to wean the country off rice importation by achieving self-sufficiency in production by 2025.
As if that is not enough, the affected farmers will have to wait till next year before they can earn some income.
Speaking to the reporter, President of GRIB Nana Agyei Ayeh II said some members of the farmers reached out to him to ascertain the situation and find a solution to the looming danger.
The President, together with some of the officials of the John A. Kufuor Foundation paid a working visit to the farms, and on their observation, several hectares of rice under cultivation are lost due to climate change and low levels of rainfall in these communities.
The woes of the farmers are further exacerbated by the huge investments they have already made in land preparation, seeds, and fertilizer.
However, the provisional production figures by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) indicate that about 973, 000 metric tonnes of rice were produced in Ghana in 2020. But, this figure could be hard to match in 2021 if the current situation persists.
Nana Agyei Ayeh II revealed that the existing dam structure which was built to harvest water to irrigate the farmlands is in a dire state of disrepair, leaving farmers at the mercy of the harsh weather conditions.
“We cannot continue with rain-fed agriculture. As you can see, this year, farmers have lost their investments simply because the rains failed them.
We would like to appeal to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to provide dugouts for these areas. These will aid in water conservations for the purposes of irrigation in such times like what we facing now” he added.
The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has announced a minimum producer price of GH¢5.22 per kilogram for second-grade fresh mango for the 2026 major season.
The Authority said the price was determined in consultation with key stakeholders, including the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) and other actors within the mango value chain.
A statement issued by the TCDA said the announcement was made in accordance with Section 3(f) of the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 (Act 1010) and Regulation 47(1) of the Tree Crops Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2471).
It said the intervention was aimed at ensuring fair pricing, improving export competitiveness and promoting transparency in the marketing of selected tree crops.
The statement said Ghana’s mango sector continued to grow as one of the country’s promising tree crop industries, contributing to export earnings, rural employment and agroindustrial development.
It said producers with first-grade mangoes could negotiate premium prices above the minimum producer price to encourage quality production within the sector.
The Authority reiterated that all actors within the selected tree crops value chain, including nursery operators, service providers, input dealers, aggregators, exporters and processors, were required to register and obtain licences in line with existing regulations.
The statement said the registration and licensing exercise would improve standards, ensure traceability, promote quality assurance and strengthen regulation within the sector.
The TCDA regulates six selected tree crops in Ghana namely mango, coconut, cashew, rubber, oil palm and shea.
The Produce Buying Company (PBC) says it has secured a financing facility backed by a GH₵30 million credited cocoa stock to enable it pay farmers promptly amid ongoing liquidity challenges within Ghana’s cocoa sector.
The move comes at a time several Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) continue to struggle with severe cash constraints and delayed payments to farmers, a situation that has heightened concerns across the cocoa supply chain.
Speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Produce Buying Company and the Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association (GNACOFA), Deputy Managing Director in charge of Finance, Thomas Ayisi described the facility as a major intervention aimed at restoring confidence among cocoa farmers, and repositioning the company after years of financial difficulties.
“PBC has secured a facility for paying credited stocks from farmers. In doing so, we distinguish ourselves from competitors who still owe. This act restores credibility and rebuilds trust at the grassroots which is the very foundation of our sector.”
“This GNACOFA-backed facility, which was supported by 30 million cedis credited stocks, is proof that PBC is not merely surviving but actively restructuring”, he said.
According to him, the financing arrangement will strengthen PBC’s operational capacity and ensure timely payments to farmers during the cocoa purchasing season.
Mr. Ayisi noted that the company remains committed to rebuilding its relationship with cocoa farmers by improving efficiency and addressing longstanding challenges that have affected operations in recent years.
He added that the partnership with GNACOFA forms part of broader efforts to deepen collaboration with farmers and enhance sustainability within the cocoa sector.
The National President of the Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association, Stephenson Anane Boateng said the partnership will support efforts to address major challenges confronting the cocoa sector including smuggling and illegal mining.
“This partnership with PBC presents an opportunity to establish stronger systems and structures that will directly support cocoa farmers and improve their welfare.
The agreement is also expected to help stabilise farmer incomes at a time the sector continues to face financing and operational pressures.
Cocoa farmers in Ghana are currently earning more per bag than their counterparts in neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, Nana Attakorah Asante has said, rejecting opposition claims that producers are worse off under the current administration.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Nana Attakorah Asante, Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese (AAK) Constituency, said current cocoa prices showed that Ghanaian farmers were earning more than their counterparts in Côte d’Ivoire and described attempts to suggest otherwise as politically misleading.
His remarks followed recent visits by some leading New Patriotic Party (NPP) members, led by Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament for Assin South, to communities within the constituency, including Obengkrom, where they engaged cocoa farmers and criticised the government’s cocoa pricing policies and economic management.
Mr Asante said the NPP delegation entered some cocoa-growing communities to convince farmers that the government had failed them following recent cocoa price adjustments linked to global market downturns and economic pressures.
However, he said prevailing cocoa prices within the West African sub-region showed that Ghanaian farmers were earning more than their counterparts in Côte d’Ivoire, accusing the delegation of spreading “falsehood” to mislead farmers.
“They came into the communities and told cocoa farmers that this government has cheated them on prices, but that is not the reality on the ground,” he said. “As we speak, Ghana cocoa farmers are earning more than those in Côte d’Ivoire.”
He added that claims that cocoa farmers had stronger purchasing power under the previous administration did not reflect current market realities.
“Our opponents said cocoa farmers could buy more cement under the previous administration, but when you compare current prices and purchasing power, that argument does not hold,” he said.
His comments come amid growing public debate over cocoa producer prices following recent adjustments announced by the Ghana Cocoa Board as part of measures to stabilise the sector.
Mr Asante said Ghana’s cocoa producer price currently stood at about GH¢2,587 per 64-kilogramme bag following the latest adjustments earlier this year.
By contrast, he said cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire currently earned about GH¢1,200 per bag under that country’s mid-crop pricing system.
A Ghana News Agency investigation similarly found that Ghana’s farmgate price remains significantly higher than Côte d’Ivoire’s, citing the same price range of about GH¢2,587 compared with roughly GH¢1,200 per bag.
Nana Asante said the higher producer price in Ghana had contributed to increasing cases of reverse cocoa smuggling from Côte d’Ivoire into Ghana.
“Before, people were smuggling cocoa from Ghana to Côte d’Ivoire. Today, the reverse is happening because Ghanaian prices are more attractive,” he stated.
Mr Asante also dismissed claims that cocoa farmers had lost purchasing power under the current administration, arguing that declining inflation and falling cement prices had improved farmers’ ability to afford building materials.
“Currently, cement prices in many parts of the constituency range between GH¢72 and GH¢82 per bag. Farmers can still buy around 30 bags of cement with proceeds from one bag of cocoa and even get some balance,” he said.
Mr Asante said government interventions in the cocoa sector extended beyond producer prices, citing ongoing fertiliser distribution, cocoa spraying exercises and plans to improve farmers’ share of the Free-On-Board cocoa price.
He further accused the opposition of attempting to create disaffection among cocoa farmers through political propaganda, claiming some participants in the engagements were brought in from outside the affected communities.
“They came with a political agenda, but after we engaged the people and explained the facts, many residents understood the true situation,” he said.
Mr Asante maintained that ongoing development projects facilitated by the Member of Parliament, Mr Felix Ofosu Kwakye, within cocoa-growing communities in the constituency demonstrated the government’s commitment to improving livelihoods.
He cited road projects, classroom blocks, CHPS compounds, boreholes and water supply interventions across the constituency.
“These projects are visible in the communities. The people can see and testify to what is happening,” he added.
Mr Asante called for discussions on cocoa pricing and farmer welfare to be guided by facts rather than partisan politics, stressing the importance of the sector to Ghana’s economy and rural livelihoods.
“This sector supports thousands of families and contributes significantly to the national economy, so we must be careful not to mislead farmers with false information,” he said.
He maintained that the ruling NDC remained committed to improving the welfare of cocoa farmers through better pricing policies, agricultural support programmes and rural development interventions.
“We are urging cocoa farmers to look at the realities on the ground and compare the figures themselves,” he added. “At the moment, Ghanaian cocoa farmers are earning more than their counterparts in Côte d’Ivoire, and that is a fact everybody must acknowledge.”
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire together produce about 65 per cent of the world’s cocoa and have in recent years collaborated under the Côte d’Ivoire
Ghana Cocoa Initiative to strengthen farmer incomes and improve influence over global cocoa pricing.
Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. John Dumelo, has attributed the sharp rise in ginger prices to a mysterious disease that has devastated ginger farms across Ghana over the past two years.
“There’s a strange ginger disease that has come and, for the last two years, it has affected most ginger farmers. That is why ginger has become so expensive,” he said.
According to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the outbreak has significantly reduced yields, creating supply gaps that traders say have become increasingly difficult to fill.
The shortages have forced traders to source ginger from countries including China, Cote d’lvoire, Nigeria and Togo to supplement the local market. Historical trade records also indicate imports from Sri Lanka, India and the Netherlands.
Figures from the Ghana Statistical Service show that China accounted for more than 23 percent of Ghana’s total imports in the final quarter of 2025, with shipments including machinery, electronics, textiles and agricultural products.
Trade data published by the United Nations COMTRADE indicate that Ghana imported approximately US$39,740 worth of ginger, turmeric, saffron, thyme and related spice products from China in 2023.
These figures underscore Ghana’s growing dependence on imported ginger, despite the crop’s longstanding importance to local agriculture, food processing and traditional medicine.
Economists have linked the situation to broader structural weaknesses in Ghana’s agricultural sector, particularly limited investment in disease control, post-harvest management and climate resilience.
Recent data also show that Ghana’s imports from China reached record levels in late 2025, with monthly imports peaking at approximately US$437 million in November.
For consumers, however, the immediate concern is affordability, as rising prices continue to affect households, food vendors, restaurants and spice retailers who depend on ginger for cooking and traditional remedies.
Seven employees of Cocoa Processing Company PLC have been interdicted following audit findings by the Ghana Audit Service, which identified an outstanding and unaccounted amount of GH¢4,373,355.04 linked to the operations of the CPC Consumer Cooperative Shop.
The audit, which examined activities covering the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 financial years and was completed in March 2026, reportedly uncovered irregularities involving products supplied to the union-run shop located on the company’s premises in Tema.
According to excerpts of the report cited by Myjoyonline.com, the consumer shop, operated by workers through their unions, had accumulated debts to the company amounting to GH¢4,373,355.04 as of September 2025 for goods supplied by CPC.
The report also indicated that the shop operated rent-free on company premises and did not pay for utilities during the period under review. The auditors cautioned that failure to recover the receivables could adversely affect the company’s financial position.
The interdicted staff include Theodore Matey Tackey, Chairman of the Senior Staff Union; Abdul-Samed Adams, Chairman of the Junior Staff Union; George Yanney, Principal Accounts Officer; Daniel Mensah, Shop Keeper; Genevieve Pawar, Product Research and Development Manager; James Ababio, Production Manager (Confectionery); and Michael Eshun, Chief Engineer.
Information available indicates that four of the affected officers served on the Consumer Shop Management Committee, two acted as patrons, and one served as the shopkeeper responsible for day-to-day operations.
Sources within the company said management acted after receiving the audit findings and issued queries to the affected staff to explain the discrepancies identified.
The staff were reportedly given the opportunity to respond before the interdictions were imposed. Some of the officers are said to have denied wrongdoing and disputed aspects of the audit findings in their responses.
A letter of interdiction dated May 11, 2026, and signed by the Managing Director, Professor William Coffie, stated that management had reviewed the responses but found that there had been “no headway” in resolving the matter.
The letter added that further investigations were necessary to arrive at a conclusive determination, in line with the Ghana Audit Service’s recommendations for the recovery of the outstanding amount.
As part of the directives, the affected staff have been instructed to cease all withdrawals from the Consumer Shop’s bank accounts and to make themselves available for a full stock-taking exercise to be jointly conducted by the company’s Audit and Accounts Departments under the supervision of the Security Coordinator.
They are also required to submit handing-over notes and will remain on two-thirds salary pending the outcome of investigations, in line with the company’s collective agreement.
The Ghana Audit Service has recommended the immediate recovery of the outstanding receivables and urged CPC to ensure proper accounting for rent, water, and electricity going forward.
The development has triggered discussions among workers, with concerns raised about the scale of the amount involved and its implications for both management and the unions associated with the shop.
Management of Cocoa Processing Company PLC had, at the time of filing this report, not issued any public statement beyond the interdiction letters served to the affected staff.
Ghana Water Limited has defended its decision to venture into the sachet and bottled water business, dismissing claims that the move distracts the company from its core mandate of supplying potable water to Ghanaians.
Managing Director of GWL, Adam Mutawakilu, said criticisms surrounding the initiative are based on misunderstandings about the structure and operations of the company.
According to him, the sachet and bottled water business is being undertaken through a subsidiary and does not interfere with the primary responsibilities of Ghana Water Limited.
Mr. Mutawakilu explained that subsidiaries often operate independently while supporting the broader objectives of a parent institution, adding that such arrangements are common among major state-owned enterprises.
He cited Volta River Authority as an example, noting that the authority operates subsidiaries involved in power distribution and revenue collection without compromising its core mandate.
The GWL Managing Director stressed that the company remains fully committed to delivering safe and reliable water to the public, while exploring additional business opportunities through legally established subsidiaries.
He further urged critics and members of the public to seek accurate information and better understand the distinction between parent companies and their subsidiaries before making comments about GWL’s operations.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced government plans to plant an additional 30 million trees from June this year as part of efforts to restore degraded forests and strengthen environmental sustainability measures across the country.
Delivering a major address at the 21st Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Minister said the initiative will commence with the onset of the rainy season and forms part of Ghana’s broader commitment to tackling deforestation and climate change.
According to him, the nationwide tree-planting exercise will build on ongoing reforestation interventions by the government to reverse the destruction of forest reserves, largely caused by illegal mining and other human activities.
“We are not stopping there. From June 2 this year, at the start of the rains and planting period, we will commence this year’s edition to plant an additional 30 million trees,” he stated.
Armah-Kofi Buah further indicated that the government is integrating tree planting into farming systems through the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme, which promotes climate-smart agriculture and sustainable land-use practices.
”In the last year alone, through our innovative flagship tree for life restoration initiative, we mobilised citizens and residents.
The Student Workforce Innovation Movement (SWIM) today announced the appointment of agritech innovator Evans Kyere-Mensah as Global Agritech & Climate Innovation Advisor, a strategic leadership role focused on expanding global workforce pathways in agriculture, climate resilience, and next-generation food systems
This strategic appointment strengthens global efforts to connect students, universities, and industry through Agritech innovation, sustainable food systems, and workforce development.
SWIM is an emerging global platform dedicated to connecting students, universities, industry leaders, governments, and development organizations to build workforce pathways and innovation ecosystems that prepare the next generation for the evolving global economy.
Kyere-Mensah brings extensive experience in agribusiness development, youth empowerment, agricultural value chain innovation, and climate-smart agriculture initiatives across Africa and international development networks. In his advisory role, he will provide strategic guidance on SWIM’s expanding portfolio of agritech education initiatives, university partnerships, and innovation programs designed to prepare students for emerging opportunities in agriculture and climate innovation.
The appointment comes at a critical moment for the global economy. According to global development organizations including the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), agriculture supports the livelihoods of nearly one billion people worldwide and remains one of the most important sectors for economic development, climate resilience, and food security.
Africa is expected to play a defining role in the future of global agriculture, with the continent home to the world’s youngest population and vast agricultural potential. Global development experts increasingly emphasize that equipping young people with agritech skills, innovation pathways, and entrepreneurial opportunities will be essential to unlocking sustainable economic growth and strengthening global food systems.
SWIM’s model addresses this opportunity by building a global platform that connects students with universities, industry partners, and emerging innovation ecosystems across sectors including agritech, climate technology, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship.
“Evans brings a rare combination of agricultural innovation expertise, youth development leadership, and global perspective,” said Louv Afua Amoakowaa Ford, Founder and CEO of the Student Workforce Innovation Movement (SWIM). “His insight will play a critical role as we expand SWIM’s agritech programs, build partnerships with universities and research institutions, and create new opportunities for students to participate in the future of sustainable agriculture and climate solutions.”
Ford added, “Agriculture sits at the intersection of food security, economic development, and climate resilience. By connecting students to agritech innovation ecosystems and institutional partnerships, SWIM is helping prepare the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of sustainable agriculture.”
As Global Agritech & Climate Innovation Advisor, Kyere-Mensah will contribute to several strategic initiatives, including:
• Development of agritech education and certification programs in collaboration with accredited universities • Expansion of climate-smart agriculture training and workforce development initiatives • Strategic partnerships with agricultural institutions, agribusiness companies, and international development organizations • Creation of innovation pilot programs and student-led agritech entrepreneurship initiatives
These initiatives support SWIM’s broader mission to build a global workforce ecosystem connecting students, educational institutions, governments, and industry leaders to drive innovation, job creation, and sustainable economic development.
“I am honored to join SWIM as Global Agritech & Climate Innovation Advisor,” said Evans Kyere-Mensah. “Agriculture is undergoing a profound transformation driven by technology, climate challenges, and new economic opportunities. SWIM’s vision of connecting students with innovation ecosystems and industry partnerships provides a powerful platform to empower the next generation of leaders in agriculture and climate resilience.”
Through this collaboration, SWIM and Kyere-Mensah will work to strengthen pathways for students to participate in agricultural innovation, support the development of sustainable food systems, and foster entrepreneurship that contributes to long-term economic growth across emerging markets.
As SWIM continues to expand its global advisory network and institutional partnerships, the organization is building a collaborative ecosystem where students, educators, innovators, and industry leaders work together to develop the workforce and innovation solutions needed for the future global economy.
About Evans Kyere-Mensah
Evans Kyere-Mensah is an internationally recognized award-winning agribusiness and youth development leader focused on advancing agricultural innovation, entrepreneurship, and climate-smart agriculture initiatives. His work centers on empowering young people to participate in agricultural value chains, promoting sustainable farming practices, and developing programs that strengthen economic opportunity and resilient food systems across emerging markets.
About the Student Workforce Innovation Movement (SWIM)
The Student Workforce Innovation Movement (SWIM) is a global initiative dedicated to expanding opportunities for students through workforce innovation, education partnerships, and entrepreneurship. By connecting students with universities, industry leaders, governments, and global organizations, SWIM develops programs that equip young people with the skills, networks, and paid opportunities needed to thrive in the evolving global economy. SWIM supports initiatives across sectors including agritech, artificial intelligence, climate innovation, blockchain technology, and entrepreneurship, helping to build innovation ecosystems that empower the next generation of global leaders
A former World Bank president has told the BBC that China should stop hoarding food and fertiliser to ease a global supply crisis caused by the Iran war.
David Malpass, who also served as Treasury Under Secretary for International Affairs under US President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019, was speaking to the World Service’s World Business Report on the eve of the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing.
“They have the biggest world stockpile of foodstuffs and of fertiliser,” he said. “They can stop building their stockpiles.”
His comments come as nations around the world scramble to secure fertiliser supplies ahead of spring planting, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz severely disrupting shipments.
China has itself halted fertiliser exports since March, citing the need to protect domestic supplies.
Malpass, who served as World Bank president from 2019 to 2023, also said that Beijing’s claim to be a developing nation is no longer credible.
“They present themselves as a developing country when they’re the second biggest economy in the world and in many ways rich,” he said.
“And yet they still have the pretence of being a developing country in the WTO and in the World Bank, and they could suspend that,” Malpass added.
The BBC has contacted the Chinese embassy in Washington for comment.
On the Iran ceasefire, which Trump on Monday described as being on “massive life support”, Malpass said the world should unite behind the United States and demand a resolution.
“You can’t have a rogue state with plutonium, and you can’t block the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
Malpass was hopeful that China would help resolve the deadlock in the Strait of Hormuz, saying that the free movement of ships was in its economic interest: “China benefits from open waterways worldwide.”
“They run the shipping lines, own the containers, and make huge profits from trade with the rest of the world. So, they would be a big loser if Iran in some way had control of the Strait of Hormuz”, he said.
On the economic outlook for ordinary Americans ahead of Tuesday’s US inflation data for April, Malpass said prices are heading higher. “I expect some up, yes, prices will go up on many products,” he said.
But he added “robust” jobs data showed the US economy was resilient.
Despite Ghana earning approximately GHS 1.93 billion from shea exports, the country still imported GHS 1.86 billion worth of shea oil.
In the opening ceremony of the World Shea Expo 2026 at Wa, the Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness at the Office of the President, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor explained the government’s policy to sustain and improve the livelihood of the shae farmers and the processors.
“This means that while we produce, others process and profit more. This imbalance is not sustainable, and it is exactly what we are determined to change,” he declared as compared Ghana’s raw export value to the imported value of finished products.
To combat this, said the government is taking bold policy steps, including a phased restriction on the export of raw shea nuts to retain more value within Ghana. He added that the introduction of the 24-Hour Economy policy will further transform the sector by removing time limits on processing and reducing post-harvest losses.
“For many women across northern Ghana, especially in this very region, the shea nut is not just a product—it is survival, it is school fees, it is healthcare, and it is hope,” Dr. Otokunor added.
Championing this export course, the Member of Parliament for Wa East and Board Chairman for the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, stressed the critical need for strict local bylaws to preserve the shea tree from environmental destruction.
“The shea tree is a climate-resilient economic lifeline for Northern Ghana,” Dr. Jasaw stated. “If we do not jealously protect the raw material source, our processing targets and government investments will mean nothing.”
This agenda was further reinforced by GEPA’s Deputy CEO, Ambrose Edwin Nsarkoh, who elaborated on the authority’s commitment to facilitating international market access for local processors. He highlighted that Ghana holds a significant share of the global shea industry, valued at $6.4 billion.
“By enforcing the mandate to process at least 50% of our raw materials locally, we are aggressively working toward our target of $10 billion in non-traditional export revenue by 2030,” Mr. Nsarkoh explained.
