Ghana’s Rice Consumption to Hit 1.8 MMT as Population and Urbanization Drive Demand – Report

Ghana’s appetite for rice is set to climb higher in the coming year, according to a new report by the U.S. Embassy’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in Accra. 

The report, Grain and Feed Annual 2025, projects national rice consumption at 1.8 million metric tons (MMT) in marketing year (MY) 2025/26, up three percent from 1.75 MMT in MY 2024/25. The increase, the report notes, will be driven largely by population growth, rising urbanization, and shifting consumer preferences.

Ghana’s population has already surpassed 34.6 million and is growing at 2.15 percent annually, according to CIA World Factbook estimates. With per capita rice consumption around 51 kilograms, demographic expansion alone points to higher demand. But the trend is being reinforced by rapid urbanization. 

Nearly 59 percent of Ghanaians now live in cities, and these urban consumers account for about 80 percent of total imported rice consumption. They are also more inclined toward long-grain and fragrant imported rice, which they perceive to be of higher quality than many local varieties.

Economic conditions are also shaping the outlook. While past years of high inflation, cedi depreciation, and the withdrawal of the benchmark value discount policy pushed rice prices higher, the situation has shifted. 

Recent cedi appreciation and falling inflation, combined with government moves to scrap some taxes and levies on imports, are expected to ease prices. This is likely to encourage households to return to rice after cutting back during periods of steep price increases.

Yet the demand story is not just about economics. Rice has become firmly entrenched in Ghanaian culture and diets, making its consumption resilient even during tough times. From waakye served with fried fish and shito on busy mornings, to jollof rice, the undisputed centerpiece of parties and weddings, rice plays a role in daily life and national identity. 

Northern Ghana adds its own staple with omo tuo (rice balls) paired with groundnut or light soup, while across the country fried rice with chicken, coconut rice, angwa moo (oil rice), and even rice water porridge are enjoyed in homes and eateries alike. This diversity of uses ensures rice remains in constant demand regardless of economic swings.

The FAS report adds that Ghana’s growing middle class, recovering hospitality industry, and expanding expatriate community will further drive demand for higher-quality imported rice. Consumer preferences are steadily shifting toward premium, fragrant varieties, a trend importers are eager to satisfy.

Taken together, the outlook signals that rice will only deepen its place in Ghanaian diets and trade flows.

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