Ghana's government will now tie rice import permits directly to investments in local rice farms and mills. This major policy change aims to boost domestic production. It also seeks to reduce the country's significant spending on imported rice.
The new rules mean rice importers must show proof of partnerships with Ghanaian rice growers. Only then will they receive approval to bring foreign rice into the country. Minister of Agriculture Eric Opoku announced this at the West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable in Accra. Organizers included the World Bank, ECOWAS Commission, and the African Development Bank.
This policy fits into Ghana's ongoing economic strategy. The nation has struggled with a large rice import bill. Last year, Ghana consumed about 1.71 million tonnes of rice. Local production was around 960,000 tonnes. This created a shortfall of nearly 751,000 tonnes. Meeting this gap cost Ghana approximately $320 million in foreign currency.
The government stated this is not about making rice more expensive for consumers. Minister Opoku assured that tariffs will not increase. Bans that cause shortages are also not planned. Instead, the goal is to redirect money from imports to building Ghana's own farming capacity. Currently, Ghana is about 56 percent self-sufficient in rice. This is an improvement from around 45 percent at the beginning of the decade.
The government models show significant benefits from reaching full self-sufficiency. Within ten years, this could save Ghana about $2.1 billion in foreign exchange. It could also attract over $400 million in private sector investment. The policy is expected to create more than 200,000 jobs. These jobs would span farming, processing, logistics, and related services.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is also using technology to help. Satellite mapping will identify land suitable for rice cultivation. This data will help investors find production and irrigation opportunities. Combining this with market access guarantees aims to attract capital for large-scale expansion. The policy is part of the wider Feed Ghana Programme. This programme includes investments in irrigation, farming equipment, better seeds, and post-harvest infrastructure. Efforts to stop rice smuggling and promote local rice are also included.