| Area: | 230 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Tropical wet-dry; two rainy seasons in south and one in north |
| Population: | 18.166 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 370 (1997) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports and roads inadequate |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grain, rice |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: April-June |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 27 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Below-average rains were recorded in August, September and early October, notably in the south and the centre where the output of the main maize and rice crops, which are now harvested, may have been reduced. The output of millet and sorghum crops should be about normal.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory following the harvest of the early millet and maize. About 30 000 Liberian refugees remain in Ghana. The 1998 cereal import requirement is estimated at 440 000 tonnes, mostly wheat and rice.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | 165 | 1 410 | 1 575 |
| Normal Imports | 175 | 200 | 15 | 390 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 60 | 40 | 12 | 112 |
| 1998 Domestic Availability | 10 | 151 | 1 604 | 1 765 |
| 1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 227 | 1 564 | 1 790 |
| 1997 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 151 | 1 564 | 1 715 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 10 | - | 40 | 50 |
| 1998 Utilization | 190 | 371 | 1 644 | 2 205 |
| Food Use | 187 | 316 | 1 317 | 1 820 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Non-food use | 3 | 45 | 322 | 370 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | 10 | 5 | 15 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 Import Requirement | 180 | 220 | 40 | 440 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 180 | 190 | 30 | 400 |
| Food aid needs | - | 30 | 10 | 40 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 43 | 2 | 7 | 52 |
| of which: Delivered | 41 | 2 | 7 | 50 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 10 | 17 | 73 | 100 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1997 production as % of normal: | 114 | |||
| 1998 import requirement as % of normal: | 113 | |||
| 1998 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 36 |
