By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
More than 227,000 Ghanaians are facing overlapping challenges of hunger, poverty and unemployment, despite a national decline in severe food insecurity, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
Data released by the GSS indicate that in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, a total of 227,519 people were simultaneously food insecure, multidimensionally poor and unemployed. This marks an increase of 19,455 people from the 208,064 recorded in the second quarter (Q2), representing a 9.4 percent rise within a single quarter.
The data show that while severe food insecurity declined nationally from 5.1 percent in Q2 to 4.6 percent in Q3, the number of people experiencing multiple vulnerabilities continues to grow.
Beyond extreme cases, food access challenges remain widespread. The number of Ghanaians classified as only food insecure peaked at 4,072,199 in Q2 2025, highlighting the scale of food insecurity across the country.
The report also points to persistent gender and geographic disparities. Severe food insecurity among rural female-headed households peaked at 8.1 percent, underscoring the disproportionate burden faced by women in rural communities.
These developments come at a critical time as Ghana intensifies efforts to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 2: Zero Hunger.
Although Ghana is recording improvements in macroeconomic performance across key sectors, analysts note that the gains are not being evenly distributed. They warn that without targeted policy interventions, the rising number of households facing overlapping vulnerabilities could undermine progress in food security, poverty reduction and job creation.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu called for more focused and region-specific interventions.
He urged authorities to prioritise high-burden regions with tailored food security, agricultural and market-access solutions, rather than relying on broad, one-size-fits-all policies.
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Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com