Rice has become a staple on most Ghanaian dining tables, yet the grains in many homes are more likely to have sailed in from Asia than been harvested locally. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Grain and Feed 2025 Report reveals that seven out of every ten bags of rice sold in Ghana are imported, with Vietnam, India, and Thailand firmly dominating the market.
This dependence continues even as domestic output rises. The USDA projects Ghana’s milled rice production at 900,000 metric tons in 2025/2026, up 18 percent from last year on the back of better weather and stronger farmer participation. But optimism is tempered: the Ghana Meteorological Agency has forecast normal-to-below-normal rainfall and longer dry spells in 2025, casting doubt on whether these production gains can be sustained.
Local rice also faces a stubborn hurdle, consumer preference. Urban households, in particular, have developed a strong taste for fragrant long-grain rice, a variety that is mostly imported. This shift in diets has kept imports climbing to 1.0 million MT in 2025/2026, making up more than half of Ghana’s projected demand of 1.80 million MT.
The price trends underline the imbalance. In early 2025, a 25kg bag of Thai fragrant rice averaged GH¢690, Vietnamese rice sold at GH¢490, while local long-grain rice traded around GH¢535. Though Ghana-grown rice was cheaper than Thai brands, it struggled against Vietnamese imports, which were not only less expensive but also often viewed as better processed.
For domestic producers, this creates a double disadvantage. They must battle consumer skepticism over quality while also competing among themselves for limited shelf space, as different local brands vie for visibility in supermarkets and open markets. Campaigns urging Ghanaians to “eat local rice” have boosted awareness, but concerns over price and milling quality continue to tilt demand toward imports.
