By Adnan Adams Mohammed
In a decisive bid to secure food sovereignty and drive economic transformation across West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its international partners have convened a high-level regional roundtable in Accra.
The two-day event, which opened on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, focuses on the theme: “Mobilising resources to achieve rice self-sufficiency in West Africa.” It brings together regional leaders, policymakers, and financial institutions to secure the public, private, and blended financing required to eliminate the region’s dependence on rice imports by the year 2035.
Delivering the official opening address on behalf of Ghanaian President H.E. John Dramani Mahama, the Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, framed the initiative as a matter of continental pride and survival.
“Beyond the issue of rice, this meeting raises fundamental questions regarding economic transformation, regional integration, and Africa’s ability for self-sufficiency with dignity,” Vice-President Opoku-Agyemang stated.
The roundtable, organized by the ECOWAS Commission’s Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, is heavily backed by global financial heavyweights, including the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The primary objective is to accelerate national and regional investment action plans for the rice value chain.
Strengthening food sovereignty
Rice has become a critical staple across West Africa, but production has historically lagged behind rapidly growing demand, draining vital foreign exchange reserves. ECOWAS leadership is determined to change this narrative.
In his address to the delegates, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized that the 2035 target is part of a broader vision for the sub-region.
“ECOWAS’ ambition is to establish competitive, inclusive, and sustainable agri-food systems that strengthen food sovereignty, create jobs, and promote shared prosperity, whilst achieving regional self-sufficiency in rice by 2035,” Dr. Touray noted, describing the roundtable as a “decisive moment” and a vital catalyst for action.
High-level alignment
The opening ceremony featured a robust lineup of regional and international stakeholders who pledged their institutional alignment with the 2035 roadmap. Key highlights included:
● Regional Vision: Dr. Kalilou Sylla, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, presented a comprehensive strategy titled ‘Vision for Rice Self-Sufficiency in West Africa by 2035.’
● Host Nation Commitment: Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, H.E. Eric Opoku, and Deputy Minister of Finance, H.E. Thomas Nyarko Ampem, detailed national alignment strategies and the importance of fiscal frameworks to support agricultural scaling.
● Global Financial Backing: Mr. Guangzhe Chen, Vice-President for the Global Environment at the World Bank, and Mr. Richard Ofori-Mante, Director of Agricultural Finance and Rural Development at the AfDB, reaffirmed their institutions’ commitments to deploying blended finance mechanisms to derisk private investments in the sector.
The roundtable concludes today, June 3, 2026, with expectations high for a finalized investment framework that will mobilize billions of dollars over the next decade to transform West African rice fields into the breadbasket of the region.
