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Food prices across Ghana held largely steady in August 2026, cushioned by adequate domestic harvests and reliable import flows, according to the latest AGRA Food Security Monitor report.
Prices for primary staples remained balanced month-on-month. The national average for rice held firm at GHS 11,100 per metric tonne, marking a 16.4% decline compared to August 2025. Sorghum also showed flat pricing at GHS 5,833 per metric tonne. White maize stood out as the sole exception among major grains, climbing 8.9% month-on-month to GHS 3,141 per metric tonne, though it remains 36.3% lower than year-earlier levels.
While crop prices remained grounded, broader cost-of-living indicators presented a mixed picture. Domestic transport costs faced sustained pressure as August petrol and diesel prices rose 3% and 1% respectively, putting them up to 29% above March benchmarks. Conversely, agricultural input costs showed signs of relief, with local fertilizer prices easing alongside reductions in Nigeria and Zambia following recent policy interventions.
Beyond Ghana’s borders, regional supply lines and global grain markets face tightening conditions. Adverse weather in Europe and ongoing Black Sea trade bottlenecks have pulled down 2026/27 global production estimates. Across West and Central Africa, inconsistent rainfall and moisture deficits continue to threaten output across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Chad, and parts of the Sahel.
The sharpest threat to future farming cycles stems from worsening global climate patterns. NOAA forecasts indicate a greater than 90% chance that a developing Pacific El Niño will persist, with a 69% probability of becoming the most intense event recorded since 1950. Combined with regional conflict and economic volatility, these conditions highlight the critical necessity of early resilience measures and climate adaptation strategies across the continent.