Organisation calls on govt to support sustainable agriculture

Food For All Africa, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has called on government, civil society, businesses and individuals to strengthen food systems, support sustainable agriculture and ensure that food is available, accessible and affordable.

The Executive Director of the organisation, Elijah Amoo Addo, said food was not merely a basic need but a human right and the foundation upon which societies were built, economies thrived and children grew into healthy adults.

“Yet, today, more than 820 million people globally still go to bed hungry, and millions more face chronic malnutrition. In Ghana, two million people are food-insecure, while 650,000 children are chronically malnourished.

This is not just a statistic, it is a stark reminder that our work in creating equitable and sustainable food systems is far from over,” he added. 

Event

Mr Addo was speaking at an event held in the form of a feast for nearly 1,000 pupils from Street Academy in Accra as part of the commemoration of World Food Day.

The day is observed annually on October 16 by the members of the United Nations to raise awareness of hunger and food insecurity around the world, and to call on all not only to reflect but to act.

The theme for this year’s celebration is: “Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future” to remind the world of the critical role that food plays in shaping the lives and future of individuals, families and communities across the globe.

Mr Addo  lamented that the challenge in today’s world was that hunger and food insecurity were now intertwined with poverty, inequality, climate change and conflicts,  phenomenons which should compel the government and all other stakeholders to not only provide food but to think about the sustainability of food systems.

“It asks us to innovate, to reduce food waste, to promote local agriculture, and to ensure that our efforts today will leave a lasting, positive impact for future generations,” he added.

He further stated that access to nutritious food was key to unlocking potential in every human being because it was through food security that children could learn better in school, adults could be more productive at work, and entire communities could lift themselves out of poverty.

Mr Addo said as an organisation, Food for All Africa was driven by the belief that no one should be left behind when it came to access to nutritious food.

He said for nearly a decade, his outfit had worked tirelessly to reduce food waste, and redirected surplus food to those who needed it most, particularly vulnerable communities across the country.

“Through our hot meals, LunchBox School feeding, Mother and Infant Nutrition Improvement Programme, we strive to address not just hunger but the long-term consequences of malnutrition, ensuring that every child and mother has the opportunity to lead a healthier and more productive life,” he said.