A new report by the World Bank has revealed that approximately 1.96 million Ghanaians are currently grappling with acute food and nutrition insecurity.
It also highlights this accounts for 6.1% of the total population facing similar challenges in West and Central Africa.
Ghana’s position places it at the 9th spot among the most affected countries in the region. The report, citing data from the Cadre Harmonisé, stresses the severity of the situation, with a staggering 34.7 million individuals across West and Central Africa facing acute food and nutrition insecurity as of November 2023.
Among the top-ten most affected nations, Sierra Leone leads the list with 15.2%, followed by Chad with 12.1%, and Cameroon with 10.6%. Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger, Mauritania, and Togo also feature prominently on the list.
Alarmingly, projections indicate a bleak outlook for the upcoming lean season, spanning from June to August 2024. The Cadre Harmonisé forecasts an exacerbation of the crisis, with an estimated 47 million people, constituting 10.5% of the total population, expected to experience acute food and nutrition insecurity across the region.
Ghana, among others, is slated to witness a worsening of the situation, with approximately 2.2 million individuals projected to be affected during this period. Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad are anticipated to bear the brunt of the crisis.
Adding to the regional concerns, the report notes the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
While the full ramifications of this decision remain uncertain, experts warn of potential disruptions to intraregional trade and commerce, which could further compound the existing food security challenges.