The average price of food commodities in Ghana has dropped by 32.69% over the last year, according to the November Food Security Monitor report published by AGRA.
The report, which tracks food security across 17 countries in Eastern, Southern, and Western Africa, says the average price decline over the last six months has been even sharper, at 37.13%.
“On the price front, all monitored West African countries have experienced drastic drops in their commodity prices over the past six months and one year due to increased supplies from recent harvests.
“Over the past six months, imported rice prices fell sharply in Burkina Faso (92.8%), Mali (62.9%), and Niger (84.2%), while maize prices declined significantly in Ghana (37.1%), Nigeria (44.2%), and Togo (98.2%),” the report noted.
Between October and November 2025, the report says, “West Africa’s staple food markets show broad price easing with isolated volatility driven by improved supply from harvests and seasonal inflows.”
The report says average maize prices per metric tonne on the Ghanaian market fell sharply over the one month from US$407 to US$374, down 8.1%, likely reflecting improved supply from recently concluded harvests.
In Togo, the price fell from US$338 to US$304, a 10% decline, signalling regional normalisation.
Rice price per metric tonne softened across most markets between October and November, led by Nigeria’s steep drop from US$586 to US$508 per MT, down 13.3%, followed by Ghana (down 9.2% from US$1,157 to US$1,051), Togo (down 7.7%), and Burkina Faso (down 7.5%), while Mali remained stable.
Millet recorded the most significant decline in Niger (US$407 to US$327, down 19.7%), with Burkina Faso also falling by 8.1%, while Nigeria edged up 2.2% due to localised demand. Sorghum prices decreased broadly, with Niger down 9.9% and Burkina Faso down 7.7%.
Overall, these downward adjustments reflect improved availability and harvest inflows, though isolated volatility persists in some markets.
The Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the UK International Development support the monthly Food Security Monitor report produced by AGRA.
Difficult grains market in Ghana
The report notes that in Ghana, over 1.2 million tonnes of rice, maize, and soybeans remain unsold, with farmers unable to cover production costs.
The report says the National Buffer Stock Company’s additional GHS 200 million (US$ 18 million) in procurement funding has proven insufficient to absorb the surplus.
“The government is maintaining the grain export ban to keep food prices low, with no timeline for lifting restrictions. Regional informal trade channels that previously absorbed surplus have been disrupted by military rule in Burkina Faso and policy changes in Nigeria,” it says.
“Meanwhile, markets are flooded with smuggled rice entering through Togo and Côte d’Ivoire borders, with politically connected traders and institutional buyers sourcing mixed supplies,” the report observed.
“Farmers and processors are planning to reduce production or change crops for next season in response to sustained losses,” the report warned.
In West Africa, harvesting of main-season cereals is nearly complete under generally favourable conditions, supported by average-to-above-average rainfall and adequate distribution throughout most of the season.
While some areas experienced localised impacts from rainfall deficits and flooding, overall weather patterns were conducive to crop development.
However, production outcomes remain constrained in regions affected by persistent insecurity and socio-economic challenges.
Aggregate cereal output for the subregion is projected at 82.9 million tonnes, representing a 10.4% increase over the five-year average and 7.3% above last year’s campaign, signalling strong regional performance despite localised constraints.
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