FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.34
| Area: | 238 540 sq km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south and one in north |
| Population: | 19.4 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$340 (2000) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads inadequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grain, rice |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: April-June |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 27 percent |
First rains in early March permitted planting of the first maize crop. Except in the extreme south, precipitation was generally above average until early June when floods caused by heavy rains displaced more than 2 000 people in the capital, Accra, and in the second largest central city of Kumasi. Rains decreased in June and remained below average. Planting of coarse grains is underway in the north.
In early February, an FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission visited northern Ghana where unusually dry weather conditions had affected crop production. The Mission estimated the 2001 cereal production at 1.525 million tonnes, which was below average. However the overall food supply situation is close to normal as reduced cereal production in northern regions will be covered by adequate availability of other foodcrops, anticipated commercial imports and food aid already pledged.
The Mission estimated total cereal import requirements in 2002 (January/December) at 461 200 tonnes including 89 000 tonnes of food aid. Worst affected areas and vulnerable groups will require food assistance estimated at about 5 000 tonnes to compensate for their reduced harvests.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | 212 | 1 523 | 1 735 |
| Previous five years average imports | 234 | 176 | 41 | 451 |
| 2002 Domestic Availability | 10 | 173 | 1 352 | 1 535 |
| 2001 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 284 | 1 352 | 1 636 |
| 2001 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 173 | 1 352 | 1 525 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 10 | - | - | 10 |
| 2002 Utilization | 214 | 348 | 1 434 | 1 996 |
| Food use | 211 | 315 | 1 209 | 1 734 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 3 | 34 | 196 | 232 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | 25 | 25 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| 2002 Import Requirement | 204 | 175 | 82 | 461 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 138 | 167 | 67 | 372 |
| Food aid needs | 66 | 9 | 15 | 89 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 15 | 14 | 7 | 36 |
| of which: delivered | 15 | 12 | 7 | 34 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 11 | 16 | 62 | 89 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2001 Production as % of average: | 94 | |||
| 2002 Import requirement as % of average: | 102 |