Global Food Insecurity Outlook Improving, New Projections Show
By Wisdom JONNY-NUEKPE
The World Food Programme (WFP) along with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) predict that as many as two million people in Ghana might face food shortages by August this year, even though the nation's general food security has shown some minor improvements.
Around 2.4 million individuals ( constituting 7.4 percent of the total population) are presently categorized as being at risk of food insecurity between March and May 2025.
Nevertheless, a concise report on the food and nutrition security status for March 2025 noted that according to the Cadre Harmonisé (CH) assessment, the figure is expected to marginally decline to around two million people, which represents approximately 6.3% of the total population, from June through August this year.
According to the report, the decrease can be attributed to continuous governmental involvement in the economy's agricultural and healthcare industries.
The report suggested specific governmental actions like the 'Feed Ghana Program' and the 'Aquaculture Cage Fish Project' to improve regions where people face critical situations.
Several parties involved in the report stated that communities experiencing strain throughout the nation require essential assistance to develop resilience and avoid slipping deeper into critical stages of food insecurity.
Regarding health concerns, the report recommended connecting vulnerable groups who urgently require assistance with social protection programs to mitigate economic disruptions.
Nevertheless, in the West African sub-region, Ghana performed better in the ratings compared to all its neighbors with the exception of Ivory Coast and Benin.
Post-quality assurance review of the analysis throughout the sub-region highlights the nation's significant strides in addressing food and nutrition insecurity.
Certainly, Ghana stands out as one of the top performers in the region, boasting a comparatively smaller share of vulnerable groups than several of its neighboring nations.
The report indicated that sustained targeted interventions and efforts to build resilience are crucial for maintaining and enhancing this favorable perspective.
As stated by MoFA, the government continues to prioritize ensuring food security and proper nourishment for every citizen, which is consistent with both national developmental objectives and international pledges made regionally and globally.
The report’s methodology
In the March 2025 iteration of the Cadre Harmonisé, they intended to assess 96 districts in the Northern Region; however, owing to limited resources, they were able to evaluate only 71 districts.
The assessment also included a representative sample of 130 districts across ten regions in the southern and middle belt – with data collected on food consumption, livelihood changes and five key drivers of food security: hazards and vulnerability, food availability, access, utilisation and stability.
Data sources also included the 2025 first quarter Food and Nutrition Security Monitoring System (FNSMS) survey, which provided recent and relevant information for the analysis.
The CH serves as a recognized, integrated instrument employed in the Sahel and West Africa for evaluating severe food and nutritional shortages. This analysis was led by the Research, Statistics and Information Directorate (SRID) of MoFA, with technical and financial backing provided by the WFP.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. Syndigate.info ).
