Dr Nana Ama Frimpomaa Agyapong, a Lecturer at the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Cape Coast (UCC), has cautioned Ghanaians against patronising food sold near gutters, particularly cooked rice or “waakye” they consider to be cheaper and more delicious.
She warned that such foods were highly prone to contamination, exposing consumers to serious foodborne diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera.
“Food sold near gutters may seem cheaper and tastier, but such environments are highly contaminated with filth, bacteria and harmful pathogens that can easily pollute food, leading to serious foodborne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, and dysentery,” she stated.
Speaking at a symposium on “advocacy for mandatory front-of-pack warning labelling in Ghana,” Dr Agyapong emphasised the health risks associated with consuming food from unhygienic environments.
It was organised by the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND) in collaboration with SEND Ghana to educate students of UCC on healthy and unhealthy diets and also chart the course for a proposed policy framework on Front-of-package warning labelling and Nutrition Profiling Models.
“The gutters often contain sewage, refuse and stagnant water, which attract flies and breed germs,” Dr Agyapong noted, adding that choosing safe, hygienic food was not about taste or price, but about protecting one’s health and that of their families.
She encouraged Ghanaians to adopt healthier eating habits by incorporating more vegetables such as garden eggs, kontomire and turkey berries (Kwahu sosaa), as well as eating at least one fruit a day.
Dr Agyapong further proposed buying fruits in season or in bulk to make them more affordable for balanced diet.
Other speakers at the forum, including Prof Kingsley Asare Preko, Vice Dean at the School of Medical Sciences, UCC, said food hygiene, particularly the front of- pack labelling advocacy aligned with the broader national public health goals to reduce non-communicable diseases linked to poor diet and food safety.
He highlighted the importance of food safety and nutrition education in preventing illnesses that often stemmed from contaminated street foods.
Prof Preko said food safety transcended political affiliation, gender and social status, highlighting its critical importance to the well-being of all citizens and its role in accelerating national development.
He advocated the enactment and support of legislation, mandating front-of-pack nutrition labelling, underscoring its benefits as a tool to promote healthier food choices and enhance transparency in the food industry, thereby protecting consumers.
SEND Ghana, a pro-poor policy advocates that sponsored the programme, called on the government to boost the school feeding grant per pupil, stressing that only with this increase could children consistently enjoy hot, nutritious, well-balanced meals, at least, once a day.
Ms Baaba Sam, representative of SEND Ghana, explained that the symposium was to empower Ghanaians to take charge of their nutritional needs, adding that wholesome diet was essential not just for physical growth but also for sharpening young minds, directly elevating academic success and overall health.
“Every Ghanaian should be able to take charge of his or her nutritional needs by identifying a healthy balanced diet from unhealthy one,” she stressed.
Dr Agyapong urged stakeholders to support the programme with funding to help fulfil its mission to eradicate hunger and malnutrition among school children to sustain their health and learning potentials.
“We urge the government to significantly raise the school feeding grant to ensure every child savours balanced meal, tackling malnutrition issues like stunted growth head-on and unlock brighter educational futures nationwide.”
GNA
