The Republic of Ghana is situated between latitudes 4°44' N and 11°11' N, and longitudes 3°11' W and 1°11' E. It shares borders with the Republic of Togo to the east, Burkina Faso to the north and northwest, and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire to the west. To the south, the Gulf of Guinea, part of the Atlantic Ocean, forms a 550 km-long coastline. The country's drainage system is dominated by the Volta River basin, which includes the artificially created Lake Volta. 

Economic Growth and Rural Poverty Context 

As of 2025, Ghana's population is estimated at approximately 34.9 million, with an annual growth rate of around 1.9%. The population distribution varies across the country's administrative regions and ecological zones, with a significant portion residing in urban areas. The labor force is distributed among the agricultural, service, and industrial sectors. 

Food and Nutrition Security and the Agriculture Sector 

Agriculture remains a vital component of Ghana's economy, contributing approximately 21.4% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2023. The sector employs about 33% of the country's active labor force and engages approximately 83% of rural households. Ghana's agriculture is predominantly characterized by smallholder, traditional, and rain-fed farming systems. 

The country has an agricultural land area of approximately 126,000 km², accounting for about 55.39% of the total land area as of 2022. Arable land constitutes about 20.7% of the total land area. Farm sizes are generally small, with a significant proportion being less than 2 hectares.