Accra: A new report by the Ghana Statistical Service has revealed that nearly three million people in Ghana remain vulnerable to food insecurity, even as most households appear to be getting by. According to Ghana Web, the findings, captured in the Mobile Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (mVAM) Food Insecurity Vulnerability Report for October to December 2025, highlight a troubling reality: while food consumption levels may look stable on the surface, many families are quietly struggling beneath.
Presenting the report in Accra, Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu said about 91 per cent of households, close to 30 million people, have acceptable food consumption. But he warned that this national average hides a more fragile situation for millions. "Beneath this national average, about three million people remain vulnerable, facing poor or borderline food consumption," Dr. Iddrisu said.
Behind these numbers are households making difficult daily choices, cutting back on meals, borrowing money, or selling off valuable assets just to put food on the table. The report shows that many families are increasingly relying on such coping strategies, a sign that the stability being recorded may not last. "About one in three households is adopting medium to high coping strategies, while nearly one in four households is already in crisis or emergency coping," he said.
He explained that such measures include reducing meal quality, borrowing, selling productive assets, and cutting expenditure on health and education. "This is not sustainable. It means many households are managing today by sacrificing tomorrow," he added.
The situation is particularly difficult in the northern parts of the country. In the Northern, North East, Upper East, and Upper West regions, nearly 40 per cent of households are struggling with poor or borderline food consumption, reflecting long-standing challenges in those areas. The report also highlights how inequality in education and income shapes food security. Families without formal education are far more exposed, while those relying on small-scale farming face significantly higher risks compared to households with more stable income sources, such as trading.
Despite the growing pressure, only a small fraction of households, about 1.5 per cent, reported receiving any form of assistance, raising concerns about whether support is reaching those who need it most. Dr. Iddrisu stressed the need for more targeted interventions. "Targeting must improve. We must focus on high-risk regions and vulnerable groups with precision," he said.
He also warned that delays in responding could worsen the situation. "If we wait until consumption collapses, we are already late," he cautioned. Chairing the event, former Government Statistician Dr. Philomena Efua Nyarko underscored the importance of using reliable data to guide decisions, noting that effective policies depend on understanding the realities on the ground. "Policies are only as effective as the evidence that informs them. When reliable data is available, governments are better able to anticipate challenges and respond to emerging risks," she said.
Dr. Nyarko added that apparent stability among some households may mask deeper vulnerabilities. "Many households that appear stable remain vulnerable, often relying on coping strategies to sustain that stability," she noted. While the report does not describe the situation as a full-blown national crisis, it sends a clear warning: without timely and targeted action, more families could slip into deeper hardship.
"The real danger is not just what the data shows today, but what happens if we delay and fail to act with precision," Dr. Iddrisu said. He added that the Service would continue to provide timely data to guide interventions. "Food security is not just about feeding people today. It is about protecting livelihoods, preserving dignity, and securing the future of this country," he said.