Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for stronger investment in agriculture and resilient food systems to address rising food prices and enhance food security across West Africa.
Speaking at the West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable under the theme, “Mobilising Transformational Capital to Support West Africa’s Rice Agenda,” the Vice President highlighted the economic challenges facing countries in the region, including imported inflation, supply chain disruptions, and exchange rate volatility.
According to her, these pressures continue to drive up food prices and underscore the need for long-term solutions that strengthen domestic agricultural production and reduce dependence on imports.
“Ghana has experienced imported inflation, supply chain challenges and exchange rate volatilities which affect food prices. Within these challenges, we have to build resilient food systems, industrialise agriculture and strengthen regional trade under the AfCFTA.” - Prof. Opoku-Agyemang
Rice Sector Investment Key to Growth
The Vice President stressed the importance of increasing investment in rice production and value addition, describing the sector as a critical component of efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency and economic transformation.
She urged governments, development partners, and private investors to mobilise transformational capital to support the growth of the rice value chain across the region.
According to Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, stronger investment in agriculture will not only help meet rising food demand but also create employment opportunities, improve farmer incomes, and strengthen economic resilience.
The roundtable brought together policymakers, investors, development finance institutions, and industry stakeholders to explore strategies for unlocking investment and accelerating the growth of West Africa’s rice sector.
Participants discussed ways to enhance regional collaboration and leverage opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to build a more competitive and sustainable agricultural economy.
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