Food And Nutrition Security Situation in Ghana: Nutrition Implications For National Development
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Date
2021
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Abstract
Achieving food and nutrition security is fundamental to the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) due to its strong interdependence with economic growth and
development. Eradicating hunger and all forms of malnutrition (SDG 2) remain high on
the global agenda and is at the forefront of high panel deliberations because poor
dietary intake has long term negative consequences on individuals and economic
advancement. The goal to end hunger and malnutrition can be achieved when food and
nutrition insecurity is properly tackled through investment in agriculture parallel to
economic and social protection programmes. In Ghana, about 1.5 million of the
population are estimated to be food insecure while undernutrition, overnutrition and
micronutrient deficiencies persist across the life stages. Challenges to food and
nutrition security in Ghana have been identified as: poverty, climate change, rapid
urbanization and population growth, gender inequalities and poor infrastructure. Poor
economic growth, health, education, hygiene and environmental exploitation are
implications of these challenges. Addressing these implications sets long-term
foundation for the development of the nation by prioritising policies that are nutrition
sensitive which directly address the complexity of malnutrition. The level of food and
nutrition insecurity in Ghana can be reduced through a national commitment towards
addressing the four pillars of food security coupled with programmes that bring about
resilience through sustainable systems. To this end, intervention programmes have been
introduced by government to reduce the poverty burden on households. These
programmes are in the form of social interventions, governmental flagship projects, and
research-driven agricultural interventions to improve yield that withstand the effect of
climate change. This review is aimed to present the food and nutrition security situation
in Ghana and emphasise the challenges that exacerbate the problem while bringing to
light the nutritional implications to national development. It is hoped that the
recommendations from this review will help the government in achieving food and
nutrition security in Ghana.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
food security, nutrition security, gender, agriculture, health, education, economic development, Ghana