Ghana’s Post-Harvest Losses Capable of Feeding Ashanti Region for Over a Year Says Agri-Impact CEO

Ghana’s post-harvest losses are alarming, potentially enough to sustain the Ashanti Region for over one year. This claim was made by agribusiness expert and CEO of Agri-Impact Limited, Mr. Daniel Fahene Acquaye, during the first Regional Agribusiness Dialogue in Kumasi on October 10, 2025. He emphasized the need for urgent reforms and increased investment in agribusiness infrastructure to address this issue.

Severe Economic Impact of Post-Harvest Losses

Mr. Acquaye highlighted that the annual post-harvest losses are estimated between $1.9 billion and $2 billion. In comparison, the total value of food and non-alcoholic beverages consumed in the Ashanti Region is approximately GH₵14 billion, or about $1.2 billion. This disparity indicates that Ghana’s food losses could feed the Ashanti Region for more than a year and a half.

Import Dependency Concerns

Despite these significant losses, Ghana continues to rely heavily on food imports, spending nearly $2 billion each year on them. Mr. Acquaye stressed that such a dependency is unsustainable and reiterated his long-standing call for an AgriFund. He argued that this dedicated financing mechanism could drive growth across the agricultural value chain and establish agribusiness as a vital component of Ghana’s economy.

Calls for Strategic Agribusiness Policy

The Kumasi dialogue was a part of a series of consultations aimed at developing Ghana’s first National Agribusiness Policy. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry (MoTAI) in collaboration with various partners, these consultations aim to gather input from stakeholders to create a coherent policy framework.

• Key Partners:
  • Agri-Impact Limited
  • Mastercard Foundation
  • PwC
  • Development Bank Ghana

According to Kwame Ntim, Head of Agribusiness at MoTAI, the agribusiness sector has operated without a cohesive policy. The consultations are designed to align fragmented initiatives and facilitate sector-wide growth. Additionally, Hayfron Aboagye, a Partner at PwC Ghana, emphasized the importance of collective efforts to transform the industry and utilize Ghana’s vast arable land more effectively.

These regional dialogues follow a National Agribusiness Dialogue that took place in July 2025, which was attended by President John Dramani Mahama and the sector minister, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare. This highlighted Ghana’s renewed commitment to positioning agribusiness as a key driver of national prosperity.