The United Nations has raised serious concerns about the state of Ghana’s food production system, warning that critical gaps are threatening both livelihoods and lives.
Speaking at the 45th World Food Day celebration in Accra, UN Resident Coordinator Zia Choudhury highlighted troubling conditions behind the country’s food supply chain which are often hidden from the public eye.
“Behind every meal we enjoy, there’s a story, and it’s not always a good one,” Mr. Choudhury said.
“Where did the food come from? Who grew it? Who cooked it? How did it get to my plate? These are important questions and the answers are often disturbing.”
Mr. Choudhury recalled a visit to Tema where he met women who smoke fish for sale in markets across the country.
“I had bought smoked fish from the Nima market, it was delicious, my kids loved it. But when I visited the women who prepare it in Tema, I saw the harsh reality,” he said.
“They work in thick smoke for hours, suffering from respiratory problems, inflamed eyes, and skin issues. It’s a tough job, and they deserve recognition for their hard work.”
He also drew attention to the plight of yam farmers, who are unable to profit from good harvests due to poor storage and transportation infrastructure.
“This year, there’s a surplus of yams, but farmers can’t store or transport them easily,” he noted. “As a result, prices have dropped, and farmers are struggling even though we in the cities are enjoying cheap yams.”
Mr. Choudhury also raised alarm over child malnutrition, describing it as a national crisis.
“I visited Savannah Northwest and met a young girl who looked about eight years old. When I asked her age, she said she was 14. She was stunted, the result of chronic malnutrition, it’s heartbreaking, and it’s far too common,” he explained.
Currently, around 17% of children in Ghana are chronically undernourished, he said a significant improvement from 20 years ago when the rate was double, but still an unacceptable figure.
“Access to nutritious food should not be a privilege, it’s a basic human right, we must keep fighting until every child in Ghana can grow up healthy, with enough good-quality food. I can’t fully enjoy my own meals knowing that so many children are going without,” Mr. Choudhury stressed.
