Descriptive Analysis Of Changes In Ghana's Food Availability And Food Safety Information Between 2010 And 2020
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Date
2022
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ajfand
Abstract
Access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food is essential to ensure food and nutrition
security and healthy lives for all. Secure access to nutritious food ensures healthy
eating habits, economic growth, and stability in an economy. However, food insecurity
and malnutrition persist globally. In Ghana, more than half of food-insecure people
reside in the Northern ecological zones of the country. Moreover, Ghana lacks a
systematic food security monitoring system to track food insecurity among vulnerable
populations. This study reviewed existing evidence on the current situation and changes
related to food production, trade, safety, and consumption in Ghana, as part of the
process to develop food-based dietary guidelines for the country. The literature review
included peer-reviewed articles published from 2010 – 2020 in Ghana to document
household-level food production, consumption, and safety issues. In addition, food
disappearance data (from 2010 to 2018) from the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations was analysed. Means and compound annual growth rates were
calculated for each food item included. The results showed that per capita food
production was higher than per capita consumption in all the food categories studied,
except for vegetables, and fish and fishery products. Food consumption was centred on
a few priority staple crops such as cassava, maize, rice, and yams, with less
consideration given to underutilised foods such as akokono (palm weevil larvae). Food
imports exceeded food exports in all food categories except 1) cocoa beans and
products, 2) root crops and tubers, 3) oil-bearing crops and nuts, and 4) fruits and
products. Fruit and vegetable consumption in Ghana has been declining since 2013.
There was also a rise in the import and consumption of processed foods, especially
tomato paste, sugars, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Food safety issues
included microbial contamination, aflatoxin contamination, polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons in smoked fish, mercury in fish, pesticide and heavy metal residues in
vegetables and fruits, and food adulteration. The evidence synthesized from this study
will be useful to inform the development of food-based dietary guidelines for Ghana.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Food, production, trade, consumption, food security, safety, Ghana