Over 227,000 Ghanaians Face Combined Food, Poverty, and Unemployment Challenges in Q3 2025
Although the national rate of severe food insecurity declined from 5.1 per cent in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025 to 4.6 per cent in the third quarter (Q3), the number of Ghanaians facing overlapping vulnerabilities continues to grow, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
GSS data indicate that 227,519 people were simultaneously food insecure, multidimensionally poor, and unemployed in Q3 2025. This marks an increase of 19,455 individuals compared with the 208,064 recorded in Q2, representing a 9.4 per cent rise within a single quarter.
Meanwhile, the number of Ghanaians experiencing only food insecurity peaked at 4,072,199 in Q2 2025, underscoring the broader challenges in accessing adequate food even outside extreme vulnerability cases.
The report also highlights persistent gender and regional disparities. Severe food insecurity among rural female-headed households reached 8.1 per cent, reflecting the disproportionate burden borne by women in rural areas.
These trends come at a critical juncture as Ghana intensifies efforts to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 2: Zero Hunger.
Despite improvements in macroeconomic performance across key sectors, the gains are not evenly distributed, leaving certain populations disproportionately affected. Analysts caution that without targeted policy measures, the growing number of households facing multiple vulnerabilities could slow progress in food security, poverty reduction, and the creation of decent livelihoods nationwide.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu urged authorities to adopt more focused interventions rather than blanket approaches.
“Target high-burden regions with tailored food security, agricultural, and market-access solutions instead of one-size-fits-all approaches,” Dr. Iddrisu said.
