The government has earmarked GH¢100 million in 2025 to strengthen the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) and enhance Ghana’s resilience against food shortages and market disruptions.
According to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s 2025–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, the funds will enable NAFCO to purchase and store essential commodities, ensuring availability during emergencies and helping to stabilise market prices.
The allocation reflects government’s commitment to modernising agriculture, promoting agribusiness, curbing food inflation, and fortifying national food security.
NAFCO’s capacity was tested last year when Ghana relied on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for 500 metric tonnes of cereals, including maize, rice, millet, and sorghum, to address shortages in eight drought-affected regions.
Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku described the 2024 situation as “less than ideal” and emphasised the need for a stronger national reserve. “In times of crisis, the buffer stock stores should be able to say: “We have 10,000 or 20,000 tonnes ready to stabilise the market,” he said.
Opoku added that NAFCO must proactively purchase surplus food during harvest seasons, store it to maintain price stability, and release it during lean periods or emergencies to prevent sudden price hikes.
Part of the GH¢100 million allocation will go directly into bolstering NAFCO’s operational capacity, ensuring the company can better anticipate and respond to future shocks in the food supply chain.
