UN raises alarm over lapses in Ghana’s food supply chain

The United Nations has sounded the alarm over Ghana’s food production system, describing it as riddled with worrying lapses that threaten both livelihoods and lives.

Speaking at the 45th World Food Day celebration in Accra, the UN Resident Coordinator, Zia Choudhury, said his personal observations of the country’s food value chain reveal troubling realities hidden behind the meals Ghanaians enjoy daily.

“In all of that amazing food that I’ve enjoyed, I also want to say that behind everything that I eat, I try to think about the backstory of that food. Where did it come from? Who grew it? How did it get to the market? Who cooked it? Why is it on my plate? And there’s a long story—and it’s not always a pretty story. It’s not always a fairy tale,” he said.

Recounting a recent visit to Tema, Mr. Choudhury said he was shocked to discover the poor working conditions of fishmongers who smoke fish for sale in markets across the country.

“I went to Tema to visit the women who smoked the fish because I ate the fish in the market. In Nima market, I bought this smoked fish—so tasty, my kids loved it. But when I went to Tema, I saw that the women who are smoking it are suffering from respiratory illnesses. Their eyes are red and inflamed. Their skin is suffering from sitting in a smoky environment so many hours a day. So I want to recognise that hard work behind that smoked fish.”

He also pointed to the struggles of yam farmers who are unable to make profit despite bumper harvests due to a lack of storage and transportation.

“I’ve also just learned from the Minister that the yams which we enjoy in Accra—the farmers this year are getting a low, low price for those yams because there’s a surplus. They can’t find a place to store it. They can’t find a way to easily transport it. So the yam farmers are struggling. I’m enjoying the cheap yam, but they’re struggling with their prices,” he noted.

Mr. Choudhury further expressed concern about rising undernourishment, stressing that access to nutritious food must be treated as a basic right, not a privilege.

“I went to Savannah Northwest and met some children there. I asked one of the kids, who looked about the height and size of my eight-year-old, how old she was — and she said, ‘I’m 14.’ I couldn’t believe that. The answer is very simple: she’s stunted.”

“Stunting comes when a child is chronically malnourished, not getting enough good quality or quantity of food. And the sad truth is that whilst we enjoy our food here in Ghana, there is a large number of children who don’t get enough. The figures now stand at around 17 % of children in Ghana who are chronically undernourished.” He added.

He commended successive governments for progress made over the years, but said the current figures remain worrying.

“About 20 years ago, that figure was twice as high. So successive governments have done very well to ensure that the population gets better quality, better quantity of food. But still, 17%—that’s a figure I want you to keep in your mind.

17 %of children in this country are chronically undernourished. That’s something we need to fight every day to reverse. There’s no way I can continue enjoying food fully until I know that every child in this country also enjoys that right. It’s not a privilege—it’s a right to have enough good quality and quantity of food,” he said.

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