Ghana's 2025 food imports total GH¢36.5 billion, led by cereals and chicken

Ghana spent GH¢36.46 billion on food imports in 2025, according to the Annual International Merchandise Trade Statistics Report released by the Ghana Statistical Service. The largest import category was processed cereal grains, valued at GH¢2.94 billion (8.1% of total imports). Frozen chicken followed at GH¢2.84 billion, and animal products such as guts, bladders and stomachs accounted for GH¢2.72 billion. Rice featured twice, with semi‑milled or wholly milled rice worth GH¢2.39 billion and broken rice at GH¢1.19 billion. Together, these four categories made up roughly 30% of Ghana's overall food import bill.

The data highlights Ghana's continued dependence on foreign supplies for staple foods and protein sources, despite ongoing efforts to boost domestic agricultural production and promote import substitution. Export opportunities are growing in value‑added agriculture, including processed cocoa products, cashew nuts, tuna and shea‑based goods, which help offset the large import bill but do not eliminate the reliance on external markets.