A lecturer from the Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Cape Coast, Dr. Kasim Abdulai has lauded the government’s transformative initiatives aimed at eradicating hunger and ensuring food security nationwide.
This follows President John Mahama’s State of The Nation’s Address on Thursday.
“The government’s visionary approach as presented in the SONA 2025 is nothing short of revolutionary. By embracing strategies such as the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda, Feed Ghana Programme, Poultry Farm-to-Table Project, AgriNext Programme, Livestock Development Project, and the establishment of Farmer Service Centers, Ghana is boldly charting a new course toward sustainable food security and improved nutritional health,” Dr. Abdulai stated.
Dr. Abdulai underscored the urgent need for these initiatives by highlighting stark malnutrition data that continue to plague the nation.
“Data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey reveal that 17% of children under five are stunted, 11% are underweight, and 6% are wasted, highlighting a severe burden on young children.
He also noted that adolescents face a double burden of malnutrition, with boys being more prone to stunting and underweight, while girls are increasingly at risk of overweight and obesity, illustrating the coexistence of undernutrition and overnutrition that demands comprehensive intervention.”
In the SONA address, President Mahama outlined a blueprint designed to modernize the agricultural sector, boost local food production, and stabilize food prices. The lecturer emphasised that these measures are critical not only for reducing the nation’s reliance on costly food imports but also for creating sustainable livelihoods for local farmers.
“This strategic focus on modernizing agriculture and empowering our local producers is the key to ensuring that every Ghanaian has access to affordable, nutritious food. It represents a long-overdue investment in our nation’s health and economic resilience,” he added.
Highlighting the potential impact of these initiatives, Dr. Abdulai noted, “The Feed Ghana Programme and Poultry Farm-to-Table Project, for example, are set to drastically reduce our dependency on imported food products, which has long been a financial drain, currently costing over US$300 million annually. Instead, we are investing in our people and our future—ensuring that the fruits of our land directly nourish our communities.”
For him, this is a bold, multi-faceted strategy signaling a turning point in Ghana’s battle against hunger and malnutrition.
“Today, we celebrate a government that not only promises change but is actively delivering it. This is a call to all stakeholders in nutrition and public health to rally behind this ambitious agenda and help build a future free from hunger,” he concluded.
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