Many individuals in our community are food insecure, with some living on the streets in desperate need of nourishment. It's disheartening to witness such circumstances. As a response, some Ghanaians have come up with the idea of leaving food for them when dining out.

They believe that providing food to those in need is a noble and essential act. Hence, Ghanaians are encouraged to set aside funds at restaurants to purchase food for the less fortunate after their meal.

In an interview on Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Friday, April 12, a caller named Adam from Akosombo expressed support for the idea.

He emphasised the need for educating individuals in the food industry before putting it into practice.

“I hope we do a better job of education in our system. I came to Accra a few weeks ago and had to buy food near Madina. While I was in the queue, I noticed a guy standing there who apparently had been there before me.

"However, I realised he couldn't afford the food; he looked unkempt and unhealthy. He kept shouting at the lady behind the counter, trying to get her attention, but she wasn't paying any attention to him. When it was my turn to pay for my food, I decided to pay for his meal as well.

"Even then, I wanted to stay a bit longer to see what would happen, but the lady still wasn't paying attention, even after I had paid for the guy's meal.

"I believe we can start addressing this issue by providing education in churches and mosques and getting to maybe conscientise people in the food industry where a lot of these things can happen, and it will go a long way to help.” He said  

A caller from Adenta praised the idea of allocating funds at eateries for the needy but expressed concern that some operators might not always give them the food after receiving money.

He suggested ensuring consistent support by personally buying food for them when meeting at the eatery.

“This should be commendable, but I believe it can only be effective when you personally meet the people there to buy food for them. You can't just leave money in this country; it's 70% corrupt, Christian.

"But who is more corrupt in the world than Ghanaians? So, in my opinion, you should support the people right there," he added.

He stressed that simply leaving money at the restaurant won't reach the needy. Innovative methods must be explored to ensure assistance reaches them, as it would significantly benefit those in need.

One potential approach is to ensure they serve the people before leaving the premises; otherwise, they may be neglected.