ECOWAS has launched a regional push to make West Africa self-sufficient in rice production by 2035, targeting the billions spent annually on imports. The plan was unveiled on Wednesday, June 4, 2026, at a high-level investment roundtable in Accra, Ghana.

The two-day meeting brought together policymakers, financiers, development agencies and private sector players. Organized by ECOWAS through its Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, with backing from the World Bank and African Development Bank, the forum focused on mobilizing public, private and blended financing for national and regional rice development plans.

Opening the session on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, Ghana’s Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang said the initiative goes beyond farming. She linked rice self-sufficiency to economic sovereignty, regional integration and resilience against global supply shocks. “Beyond rice, this meeting is about economic transformation, regional integration and Africa’s capacity to achieve self-sufficiency with dignity,” she stated.

West Africa produces about 14 million metric tons of milled rice but consumes over 22 million tons, forcing countries to import the deficit at a cost of roughly $3.5 billion yearly. ECOWAS officials said the new roadmap, part of the 2025-2035 Regional Rice Roadmap, will prioritize modern irrigation, improved seed systems, processing hubs and digital monitoring to close the gap.

The move aligns with ongoing AfDB-backed programs like the REWARD-ECOWAS project, which is funding value chain upgrades across 15 member states. ECOWAS said the goal is to create jobs for youth and smallholder farmers while reducing vulnerability to global market volatility.

Sources: Arise News, AfDB, ECOWAS Commission.