Briefing Paper

Climate Change, Agriculture, and Foodcrop Production in Ghana

“Despite the recent transition to an industry and service sectors-led economy, agriculture still plays a fundamental role in Ghana. The sector comprises approximately 30 percent of the country’s GDP to date and employs approximately 50 percent of the population. The agricultural sector is believed to have the potential to grow at rates as high as six percent, but climate change could potentially inhibit such progress in the long run, given that the sector is particularly vulnerable to this ongoing phenomenon. The vulnerability of Ghana’s agriculture to climate change is largely due to its dependence on rainfall, particularly in the country’s semi-arid north. Climate change can also exacerbate underlying problems that affect the agriculture sector.”