Determined to reverse decades of dependence on imported rice and strengthen food security across the sub-region, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its development partners have launched an ambitious drive to mobilise investments aimed at achieving rice self-sufficiency in West Africa by 2035.
The initiative took centre stage at a high-level Regional Round Table on Investment in the Rice Sector held in Accra, Ghana, where policymakers, financiers, development institutions and private sector stakeholders gathered to chart a pathway towards transforming one of the region’s most strategic agricultural commodities.
The two-day meeting, organised by ECOWAS through its Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture with support from the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB), seeks to unlock public, private and blended financing required to implement national and regional rice development plans.
The gathering comes at a critical moment for West Africa, a region where rice has become a staple food for millions but where domestic production continues to lag behind demand, forcing countries to spend billions of dollars annually on imports.
Opening the roundtable on behalf of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang said the challenge before the region transcends agriculture and touches on broader issues of economic sovereignty and sustainable development.
She stressed that the quest for rice self-sufficiency is fundamentally linked to Africa’s ability to transform its economies, deepen regional integration and build resilience against global supply disruptions.
“Beyond rice, this meeting is about economic transformation, regional integration and Africa’s capacity to achieve self-sufficiency with dignity,” she said.
For decades, West African nations have struggled with the paradox of possessing vast arable land, favourable climatic conditions and a large agricultural workforce, yet remaining heavily dependent on imported food.
In his remarks, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, described the initiative as a defining moment in the bloc’s efforts to attain food sovereignty.
According to him, ECOWAS is committed to building competitive, inclusive and sustainable agri-food systems capable of generating employment, creating wealth and strengthening regional food security.
“Our ambition is to establish competitive, inclusive and sustainable agri-food systems that strengthen food sovereignty, create jobs and promote shared prosperity while achieving regional self-sufficiency in rice by 2035,” Touray stated.
The meeting also featured contributions from Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem, World Bank Vice President for Global Environment Guangzhe Chen, and AfDB Director of Agricultural Finance and Rural Development Richard Ofori-Mante.
A major highlight of the event was the presentation of the “Vision for Rice Self-Sufficiency in West Africa by 2035” by Kalilou Sylla, outlining strategies to boost production, irrigation, mechanisation and processing.
Experts say achieving self-sufficiency will require massive investment in agricultural infrastructure, research, and value-chain development, alongside stronger collaboration between governments and private investors.
If successful, the 2035 rice self-sufficiency agenda could significantly reduce import bills, strengthen food security and reshape agricultural systems across West Africa.
Michael Olugbode
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