Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has called on investors and development partners to channel long-term capital into Ghana’s rice sector, describing it as a key driver of economic growth, food security and industrialisation.
Speaking at the 2026 West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable in Accra on Tuesday June 2, 2026, Mr. Ampem said the government is repositioning agriculture, particularly strategic value chains such as rice production, as a central pillar of the country’s economic transformation agenda.
The high-level forum brought together representatives from governments across West Africa, private sector players, development finance institutions, investors and regional bodies, including ECOWAS, to discuss investment opportunities within the region’s rice industry.
Delivering remarks on behalf of Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson, the Deputy Minister said Ghana is implementing policies aimed at creating a stable and attractive environment for investment in the rice value chain.
“Ghana’s message to investors is straightforward: we are doing the policy work, we are strengthening the enabling environment, and we are creating the conditions for long-term capital to thrive,” he stated.
According to him, government efforts are focused on reducing the country’s dependence on rice imports while increasing domestic production, agro-processing and value addition.
He noted that despite the vast agricultural potential across West Africa, the region continues to spend between US$3 billion and US$4 billion annually on rice imports.
“West Africa continues to spend about US$3-4 billion annually importing rice. That is billions in foreign exchange leaving our economies each year to finance demand we should increasingly be meeting ourselves,” he said.
Mr. Ampem argued that the major challenge facing the region is not a shortage of land, water resources or farmers, but rather the lack of sufficient investment to scale up rice production.
He stressed the need for what he described as “transformational capital” to finance irrigation systems, storage facilities, logistics, milling operations and agro-processing infrastructure.
The Deputy Minister said Ghana’s economic reset agenda under President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang places strong emphasis on productive transformation, food security and private sector-led growth.
He added that government interventions are aimed at strengthening agricultural value chains, improving market coordination, supporting price stability and creating a predictable investment climate for businesses.
He also cited improving macroeconomic stability and growing investor confidence as factors enhancing Ghana’s attractiveness to long-term investors.
Mr. Ampem further urged stakeholders across the sub-region to move beyond policy discussions and focus on mobilising practical financing solutions to support large-scale rice production.
“West Africa does not need more declarations. We need to create pipelines of bankable projects capable of crowding in long-term capital at scale,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the roundtable would facilitate strategic partnerships and investment commitments that would strengthen regional food systems, boost local rice production and reduce the region’s dependence on imports.
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI
