By Rachel Quartey & Rukayatu Musah
Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for increased investment across West Africa’s rice value chain, urging governments, development finance institutions and private investors to accelerate efforts towards achieving regional food security and agricultural transformation.
Speaking at the West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable 2026, held under the theme, “Investing in West Africa’s Rice Value Chain: A Strategic Imperative for Food Security, Economic Growth and Regional Prosperity,” the Vice President said the region must reduce its dependence on food imports and transform agriculture into a commercially viable industry.
She noted that recent global disruptions, including export restrictions, trade tariffs and geopolitical tensions, have exposed the vulnerability of countries that rely heavily on food imports.
”Countries that import too much food also import vulnerability,” she stated.
According to her, despite West Africa’s vast agricultural potential, Africa still spends more than $50 billion annually on food imports, with rice accounting for a significant share.
”Rice has become one of the most consumed staple foods across West Africa, with demand rising rapidly. Yet West Africa alone imports millions of tonnes of rice every year,” she said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stressed that the challenge extends beyond increasing rice production, calling for large-scale investment to transform agriculture from subsistence farming into integrated and competitive value chains.
She described rice as a strategic economic asset capable of creating jobs, increasing farmers’ incomes and strengthening economies against future global shocks.
The Vice President said Ghana is pursuing an Agriculture for Economic Transformation agenda aimed at linking production, processing, logistics, exports and agro-industrial development to drive growth and resilience.
She emphasized the need for long-term investment in irrigation, agro-processing, research and climate-smart agriculture.
”Put simply, this means financing agriculture as an industry,” she stressed.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also called for stronger partnerships among governments, development finance institutions, commercial banks and private investors to unlock the sector’s full potential.
She concluded by urging African countries to seize the opportunity to strengthen food security and position the continent as a major food producer.
”The future of Africa’s food security must be grown in Africa’s soil, financed by beneficial partnerships, and powered and sustained through regional cooperation,” she said.
