Accra, the capital of Ghana, hosted on June 2, 2026, the West Africa Rice Financing Roundtable, organized under the auspices of ECOWAS.

The event was held in the presence of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, the Vice President of Ghana, several ministers, including the Deputy Minister, Bernard Kini Comoé, as well as major international development partners.

This roundtable is part of a regional drive to transform agricultural value chains, with a particular focus on rice, a widely consumed staple food across the West African region.

In front of donors and development stakeholders present in Accra, Bernard Kini Comoé presented the situation of Côte d’Ivoire’s rice sector. With national consumption estimated at 2.4 million tonnes per year and local production at around 1.2 million tonnes, Côte d’Ivoire still only partially covers its needs and remains dependent on imports.

This situation represents an annual financial burden estimated at nearly 600 billion CFA francs. The authorities aim to significantly reduce this expenditure through a structured program targeting rice self-sufficiency within two years.

To achieve this goal, the government is focusing on greater involvement of the private sector, particularly in agricultural land development, seed production, and rice processing.

The Deputy Minister also called on investors and financial partners present in Accra, highlighting the opportunities offered by Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural potential, including land, water resources, farmers, political will, and industrial ambition.

Beyond the Ivorian case, discussions highlighted the common challenges faced by countries across the sub-region. The conclusions of this Accra roundtable are expected to feed into the Regional Rice Investment Pact, which is currently being developed under ECOWAS leadership.