Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson says $22m World Bank support to boost Ghana’s food security

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The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, says a US$22.6 million World Bank loan under the West Africa Food System Resilience Project (FSRP) will significantly strengthen food security and help address long-standing structural challenges in Ghana’s agricultural sector.

Dr. Forson made the remarks during a working tour of Golden Exotics Limited, a leading local banana production and export company, as well as rice farms in Kpong and Asutsuare in the Eastern and Greater Accra regions on Friday, January 30, 2026.

The World Bank–supported project, led by the Government of Ghana, aims to enhance farmers’ access to reliable weather and climate advisory services through digital information platforms. It also seeks to boost the production of key commodities, including maize, rice, soybean, tomato, and poultry, to improve productivity and resilience across the food system.

According to the Finance Minister, the loan facility will play a critical role in tackling persistent challenges within the sector.

“Let me thank the World Bank for the assistance and for allocating this loan facility to the Government of Ghana to enable us to develop our agriculture sector. This is a sector that has struggled over the years, and this support will go a long way,” Dr. Forson said.

Meanwhile, the World Bank’s Division Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Robert Taliercio, said the initiative reflects the Bank’s continued commitment to supporting Ghana’s agricultural development priorities.

He noted that agriculture accounts for a significant share of Ghana’s GDP and remains one of the largest sources of employment, making it a critical pillar of the economy.

“Agriculture is a very important sector for Ghana. Infrastructure remains a recurring challenge, and despite existing constraints, the World Bank remains committed to supporting Ghana, particularly in addressing these infrastructure gaps,” Mr. Taliercio said.