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According to new data released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the number of Ghanaians facing food insecurity rose by 7.3 percent between the first and last quarters of 2024.
The report indicates that the population experiencing food insecurity — defined as limited access to adequate and nutritious food — increased from 12.4 million in the first quarter to 13.3 million by the end of 2024.
The GSS said the trend underscores growing pressure on household food systems despite ongoing government and development interventions.
The Volta Region recorded the highest incidence of food insecurity at 52 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, up slightly from 51.5 percent earlier in the year.
In Greater Accra, food insecurity rose sharply from 20.2 percent to 29 percent over the same period, highlighting the increasing vulnerability of urban households.
The report also points to widening gender disparities in food access. Food insecurity among female-headed households rose from 40.4 percent to 44 percent, compared to 37.1 percent among male-headed households, maintaining a seven-point gap.
The GSS further linked food insecurity to poor child nutrition and poverty, noting that the proportion of households with underweight children under five increased from 38 percent to 44.9 percent.
Additionally, the number of Ghanaians who are both food insecure and multidimensionally poor grew by 400,000, reaching 4.1 million by the end of 2024.
The GSS is urging coordinated, data-driven policies to combat hunger, promote climate-resilient agriculture, and ensure equitable access to nutritious food in line with Sustainable Development Goal 2 — Zero Hunger.
Source: myghanadaily
