Ghana’s agricultural production continues to expand across crop farming, fisheries and aquaculture, but government spending on the sector remains disproportionately low compared with its contribution to the economy, raising questions about the level of public investment required to sustain agricultural growth and strengthen domestic food production.
According to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), in its Ghana in Numbers 2025 publication, agriculture accounted for approximately one-fifth of Ghana’s economic output in 2024.
Yet the Agriculture Orientation Index stood at just 0.023, indicating a significant imbalance between the sector’s contribution to the economy and the resources allocated to it through public expenditure.
“Ghana’s index has never come close to 1,” Ghana Statistical Service.
Public Investment Lags Agriculture Economic Contribution
The GSS data show that government expenditure on agriculture increased from GH¢181.09 million in 2013 to GH¢2.46 billion in 2024. However, the growth in nominal expenditure has not translated into a proportionate increase in the sector’s share of total government spending.
Agricultural expenditure reached GH¢757.75 million in 2018 before increasing to GH¢1.15 billion in 2020 and GH¢1.35 billion in 2021. It subsequently stood at GH¢1.12 billion in 2022, GH¢1.59 billion in 2023 and GH¢2.46 billion in 2024.
Despite the increase, agriculture received approximately 0.48 per cent of total government expenditure in 2024, based on the figures presented in the GSS table. This compares with the sector’s substantial contribution to national economic output.
The Agriculture Orientation Index, which measures agriculture’s share of government expenditure against its share of gross domestic product (GDP), provides a clearer indication of the investment imbalance.
An index of 1 represents proportional allocation, while a figure below 1 indicates that agriculture receives a smaller share of public expenditure than its contribution to the economy.
Ghana’s index improved to approximately 0.066 in 2018 but subsequently declined to 0.023 in 2024. The development highlights the difference between increasing nominal allocations and the actual priority given to agriculture in government expenditure.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) identifies investment in agricultural research, rural infrastructure, technology development and extension services as important components of strengthening agricultural productive capacity under Sustainable Development Goal 2.
“An AOI below 1 indicates that the share of Government expenditure devoted to agriculture is smaller than the GDP share of the sector.”
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
The figures therefore raise important considerations for agricultural financing, particularly in areas such as irrigation, improved seeds, mechanisation, extension services, research and infrastructure, which influence productivity and farmers’ ability to respond to changing production conditions.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Expand Production
Beyond crop farming, Ghana’s fisheries industry recorded considerable growth in domestic fish production over the 15-year period covered by the GSS publication.
Total fish production increased from 412,658 metric tonnes in 2010 to 722,648 metric tonnes in 2025, while the corresponding production value rose from GH¢1.94 billion to GH¢20.44 billion.
Marine fisheries remained the largest contributor, producing 443,794 metric tonnes in 2025. Inland fisheries followed with 154,692 metric tonnes, while aquaculture contributed 124,161 metric tonnes.
The figures demonstrate the continuing importance of marine resources to Ghana’s fish supply, alongside the growing contribution of inland fisheries and commercial fish farming.
Aquaculture, which involves breeding and raising fish in controlled environments such as ponds, tanks and cages, is increasingly relevant to domestic food production, particularly as pressure on natural fish stocks creates the need for alternative sources of supply.
Fish farming has recorded particularly significant growth. Production of tilapia and catfish increased from a combined 32,512 metric tonnes in 2013 to approximately 124,428 metric tonnes in 2025, representing an increase of about 283 per cent.
Their combined production value also rose from GH¢230.97 million to approximately GH¢4.93 billion over the same period.
“Fish farming grew fastest of all, from 10,200 tonnes to 124,161, twelve times more in fifteen years.”
Ghana Statistical Service
Tilapia remains the dominant farmed species by both production volume and value. In 2025, tilapia production reached 86,584.8 metric tonnes, valued at GH¢3.45 billion, while catfish production stood at 37,842.9 metric tonnes, valued at GH¢1.47 billion.
The growth presents opportunities for investment in hatcheries, fish feed production, processing, cold chain infrastructure and distribution.
However, sustaining the expansion will require attention to production costs, access to quality fingerlings, fish health management and environmental sustainability.
Crop Production Strengthens Food Supply
Ghana’s crop production also recorded notable increases between 2013 and 2024, reflecting the expansion of output across several major food commodities.
Cassava production increased from 16 million metric tonnes to 28.5 million metric tonnes, while yam output rose from 7.1 million to 11.4 million metric tonnes.
Plantain production nearly doubled, increasing from 3.7 million to 7.2 million metric tonnes. Maize production also expanded from 1.8 million to 3.3 million metric tonnes, while rice production increased from approximately 600,000 to 1.1 million metric tonnes.
These commodities remain important to household food consumption, agro-processing and Ghana’s wider agricultural value chain.
The increase in rice and maize production is particularly relevant to efforts to strengthen domestic food supply and reduce exposure to imported food commodities.
However, higher production volumes alone do not establish food self-sufficiency, as storage capacity, post-harvest losses, distribution systems, affordability and processing capacity also influence food availability.
“Ghana is growing more of the food it eats,” Ghana Statistical Service.
The broader agricultural figures present two developments requiring attention: expanding domestic production and the relatively low orientation of government expenditure towards the sector.
While improvements in crop production, fisheries and aquaculture demonstrate opportunities for agricultural growth, sustaining these gains requires investment in infrastructure, technology, research, financing and market access.
For Ghana, aligning public expenditure more closely with agriculture’s economic contribution could support productivity improvements, strengthen domestic value chains, create employment opportunities and improve the resilience of the country’s food systems.
The GSS figures ultimately highlight that increased agricultural output must be matched by sustained investment if Ghana is to translate production growth into long term food security, industrial development and broader economic gains.
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