Accra, Ghana | July 30, 2026 — Ghana enters the Kampala Declaration implementation period with strong policy foundations but faces an urgent need to translate planning into measurable results, according to three new analyses from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Together, the reports provide a comprehensive roadmap to help the country accelerate agrifood systems transformation through smarter investments, stronger implementation, and more integrated policies.
Presented during the ”National and Inclusive Two-Day Workshop on Ghana’s Agrifood Systems Transformation under the Kampala Declaration’‘, the reports examine Ghana’s progress during the Malabo Declaration era, identify the investments most likely to generate the greatest economic and social returns, and propose priority policy actions for the decade ahead.
The Status Assessment and Profile (SAP) report finds that Ghana achieved important progress in reducing hunger, strengthening agricultural governance, and improving evidence-based policymaking during the Malabo period. Severe undernourishment fell to among the lowest levels in Africa, poverty declined substantially, and Ghana became one of the continent’s strongest performers in agricultural planning and mutual accountability.
However, these institutional gains were not matched by broad agrifood systems transformation. Agricultural productivity remained below potential, public investment consistently fell short of continental commitments.
“Strong political commitment and inclusive planning can yield progress, but without sufficient investment and systems thinking, key targets will be missed,” said John M. Ulimwengu, Senior Research Fellow at IFPRI.
The second report, ‘’Economywide Analysis in Support of the Kampala Goals and Milestones’’, identifies where Ghana can generate the greatest returns from future public investment. Using IFPRI’s Rural Investment and Policy Analysis (RIAPA) modeling framework, the analysis ranks investment options based on their expected impacts on economic growth, employment, poverty reduction, food security, and diet quality.
The analysis shows that increasing agrifood spending from approximately 2 percent to 10 percent of the national budget, in line with CAADP commitments, while directing additional resources toward high-return investments; including SME agro-processing, agronomy extension services, climate adaptation, and improved seed systems; could substantially accelerate transformation.
Model projections indicate that agrifood GDP could increase by approximately 67 percent by 2035, while national poverty could decline to around 7 percent, alongside significant improvements in food security and broader structural transformation.
“Increasing agrifood spending from the current 2 percent to 10 percent of the national budget is projected to generate substantial economic and social gains. Agrifood GDP is expected to expand significantly, increasing by approximately 67 percent by 2035.” Said Emerta Aragie, Research Fellow at IFPRI.
Building on these findings, the Policy and Program Opportunities (PPO) report outlines practical actions to help Ghana translate evidence into implementation. It calls for shifting from a production-focused agricultural approach toward a comprehensive agrifood systems strategy that integrates productivity, nutrition, resilience, markets, inclusion, climate adaptation, and governance.
Among its recommendations are increasing investment in high-impact interventions, strengthening climate-smart agriculture, expanding agro-processing, improving women’s access to productive resources, increasing opportunities for youth, integrating nutrition objectives into agricultural policy, and strengthening coordination across government institutions.
“The Kampala decade will not be remembered for declarations made, but for measurable transformation achieved,” the report concluded.
Together, the three analyses underscore that Ghana possesses the institutional foundations, policy experience, and technical capacity needed to achieve the Kampala Declaration commitments. The challenge now lies in accelerating implementation through increased investment, stronger coordination, evidence-based decision-making, and greater accountability.
The workshop brings together representatives from government, research institutions, farmers’ organizations, the private sector, civil society, women and youth organizations, development partners, and financial institutions to validate the findings and build consensus around Ghana’s agrifood systems transformation priorities.
The reports were developed by IFPRI to support Ghana’s implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration (2026–2035) and contribute evidence to national agricultural investment planning.
About IFPRI
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition. IFPRI’s strategic research aims to identify and analyze alternative international and country-led strategies and policies for meeting food and nutrition needs in low- and middle-income countries, with particular emphasis on poor and vulnerable groups in those countries, inclusive development, and sustainability. It is a research center of CGIAR; a worldwide partnership engaged in agricultural research for development. http://www.ifpri.org
IFPRI in Africa provides on-the-ground support for local research, capacity building, and partnerships to reduce poverty and end malnutrition across the continent. We conduct evidence-based research on agriculture, food security, nutrition, gender, markets, and climate resilience—tailored to African contexts. https://africa.ifpri.info/
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