Professor Anna Lartey, a nutritionist at the University of Ghana, spoke at the 2026 World Food Day commemoration in Accra, stating that 65 % of Ghanaians cannot afford a healthy diet and 43.5 % face moderate to severe food insecurity.
She warned that poor diet quality is undermining nutrition, school performance, productivity and long‑term economic growth, calling for urgent reforms to make nutritious food more accessible and affordable.
Lartey urged the government to translate Ghana’s commitments under the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit into practical interventions, including developing food‑based dietary guidelines, increasing fruit and vegetable production, and reducing food losses.
She also called for greater investment in indigenous foods, describing them as nutritious, affordable and resilient to climate change, and stressed the need for research and innovation to address food waste.
UN Food and Agriculture Organisation officials and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research confirmed ongoing collaboration with Ghanaian authorities to strengthen food systems. The event, organised by the FAO and hosted by the institute, showcased indigenous Ghanaian foods and featured a cooking competition for young chefs.
Moving forward, the nutritionist expects the government to implement concrete measures to improve food security and nutrition, particularly for rural communities that bear a greater burden of food insecurity.
