This report analyses Ghana’s public expenditure on food and agriculture from 2016 to 2023 using the FAO Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) programme indicators. These indicators track both the level and composition of expenditure, thus enabling the assessment of trends over time, and examination of alignment with national agricultural priorities as well as regional and international commitments.

Public expenditure on agriculture (PEA) increased at an average annual rate of 33 percent in nominal terms, reflecting continued government engagement in the sector. However, in real terms and as a share of total public expenditure, PEA remained low by regional standards and declined over the review period. The composition of expenditure shows mixed performance. Input subsidies accounted for a substantial share of agriculture-specific spending; however, their share declined in recent years. Agricultural training absorbed a significant portion of expenditure, reflecting investment in colleges, farm institutes, and university departments. Other areas, including extension services, agro-processing, and storage, received relatively limited funding. Investment in infrastructure, such as feeder roads and irrigation, increased, but high costs and implementation challenges constrained their impact. Consumer transfers within the broader food and agriculture expenditure also declined in recent years due to limited fiscal space. At subsector level, crops received the largest share of public expenditure, followed by forestry, then fisheries, and finally livestock. The analysis identifies opportunities to improve allocative efficiency and realign resources across policy areas and subsectors to better achieve national priorities and fulfil regional commitments.