FINANCE MINISTRY & WORLD BANK THROW WEIGHT BEHIND FSRP - To Champion Rice Self-Sufficiency In Ghana

The Minister of Finance, (Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson) and World Band Divisional Director for Ghana, Sierra Leone &... on Friday 30th January 2026, paid a working visit to the Kpong Irrigation Scheme in a decisive move to scale up the production of rice in the country – towards making Ghana rice self-sufficient through the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP). They were accompanied by senior officials of the Finance Ministry, World Bank and FSRP.

They visited farmlands that benefit from the Kpong Irrigation Scheme and interacted extensively with farmers.

In a press briefing, the Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson admitted that government alone cannot create all jobs needed for a growing population, and reiterated government’s desire to create an enabling environment for private sector investment. He further noted that large-scale commercial agriculture, particularly rice production, offers a sustainable pathway to job creation and economic growth. He pledged that government will provide the necessary support to unlock private capital.

The World Bank’s Division Director for Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia, Robert Taliercio Obrien affirmed the bank’s commitment to partnering with Ghana to scale up infrastructure investments that will enable the private sector to grow, create jobs, and strengthen the economy. He announced plans towards a new agriculture programme estimated at one billion dollars, aimed at supporting economic crops, expanding irrigation infrastructure, and improving rural road networks to ensure efficient movement of food and export crops.

THE KPONG IRRIGATION SCHEME

The West Africa Food System Resilience Project (FSRP) is pursuing construction activities towards the completion of the rehabilitation and modernisation of the Kpong Irrigation Scheme [KIS] which covers areas around Akuse and Asutsuare in the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions respectively.

The scope of rehabilitation works to be carried out include:

-       The rehabilitation of the irrigation and drainage infrastructure

-       The installation of instrumentation/automation equipment for enhanced water delivery and management

-       Rehabilitation of road networks; and the facilitation of the set up of improved management of the irrigation scheme.

So far, rehabilitation works are about 75 per cent complete; and when fully operational, the scheme is expected to irrigate approximately 4,040 hectares of farmland across Kpong and surrounding communities. The installation of automation and instrumentation for the irrigation system is about 30 per cent complete.

This is being carried out at a cost of US$22.6 million, with World Bank funding.

GHANA RICE SELF-SUFFICIENCY

The model is targeting the development of at least 100,000 hectares of irrigation systems in 5000-10,000 hectare enclaves with a view to attaining rice self-sufficiency in Ghana. This is being implemented in concerted combination with other FSRP interventions including the introduction of smart seed varieties, the application of climate-smart technologies and production methods, on-field milling and off-taking through public-private collaborations. 

BENEFICIARIES OF KIS

Beneficiaries of the Kpong Irrigation Scheme include at least 2000 smallholder rice farmers (mainly around the Asutsuare and Akuse environs); and Golden Exotic – the single largest organic banana farm and exporting entity in Africa. It also provides water for several aqua culture companies in Ghana for the production of tilapia and catfish – the largest fish farm in Ghana.

Other FSRP irrigation sites are: the Tanoso Irrigation Scheme (in the Bono East Region), the Vea Irrigation Scheme (in the Upper East Region), the Weta Irrigation Scheme (in the Volta Region).

ABOUT FSRP

The West Africa Food System Resilience Project (FSRP) is a regional project, funded by The World Bank, coordinated by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and implemented in 8 countries - to increase West Africa’s preparedness against food insecurity; and improve the resilience of food production processes against environmental, social and economic shocks within the region. In Ghana, FSRP is being implemented by the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Food & Agriculture (MoFA). To that end, works are fast advancing by FSRP Ghana to construct or refurbish pivotal value chain facilities across the country, including: veterinary laboratories, plant-dedicated laboratories, a seed bank, inner valleys, irrigation schemes, testing labs at selected border posts; warehouses and markets for cross-border bulk trade. FSRP Ghana is also supporting the intensified production of Rice, Maize, Soya, Tomato and Broiler Poultry.

[Asutsuare, Feb. 2026]

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