1. Cereal grains that are processed but not rolled or flaked top the list, costing Ghana over GH¢3.3 billion and accounting for 8.6% of total food imports.
2. Animal guts, bladders, and stomachs, excluding fish, were the second most imported item, valued at GH¢2.7 billion, showing high demand for organ meats.
3. Frozen cuts and offal of fowl ranked third, contributing GH¢2.58 billion to the import bill and highlighting Ghana’s dependence on imported poultry parts.
4. Imported sugar, in powdered, crystal, or granulated forms, made up 6.1% of food imports at GH¢2.37 billion, suggesting a sugar gap in domestic supply.
5. Surprisingly, Ghana imported GH¢2 billion worth of raw cocoa beans, a locally grown commodity, likely to feed re-export processing or regional value chains.
6. Semi-milled and wholly milled rice, in bulk or large packs, cost the country nearly GH¢2 billion, underscoring continued reliance on foreign rice.
7. Crude shea oil imports amounted to GH¢1.86 billion, despite Ghana being a major producer, pointing to either export-led shortages or refining constraints.
8. Shea nuts themselves also featured on the list at GH¢1.62 billion, reflecting either processing export demand or insufficient local processing capacity.
9. Frozen fish (excluding fillets) cost GH¢1.26 billion, indicating continued gaps in domestic fish production or consumer preference for imports.
10. Broken rice alone accounted for another GH¢1.07 billion in imports, showing that lower-grade rice still commands significant demand in the local market.
So What?
Ghana’s 2024 food import profile highlights key areas where domestic agricultural production and processing could be strengthened. Despite cultivating crops like rice, cocoa, and shea, the country continues to import significant quantities of these and related products. The data suggests opportunities for investment in agro-processing, improvements in supply chains, and policy support aimed at enhancing local value addition and reducing reliance on imports.
