The Executive Director of Women, Media and Change (WOMEC), Dr. Mrs. Charity Binka, has called for renewed national commitment and coordinated action to address Ghana’s persistent malnutrition and food insecurity challenges as the world marks World Food Day 2025 under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.”

Dr. Binka emphasised that food is not a privilege but a fundamental human right, lamenting that millions of Ghanaians especially women and children still face hunger, poor nutrition, and rising food prices due to climate change, economic inequality, and weak agricultural systems.

“Women form more than half of Ghana’s agricultural labour force and play a central role in feeding our families and our nation. Yet, they continue to face barriers to land, water, finance, and fair markets. This inequality threatens not only their livelihoods but also our collective future,” she stated.

Citing the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, Dr. Binka described malnutrition as a serious national crisis, revealing that 6.7% of children under five suffer from wasting, 10.6% are underweight, while 63% of children and 42% of women of reproductive age are anemic. Meanwhile, overweight and obesity are on the rise, creating what she described as a “double burden of malnutrition” that costs the country an estimated 6.4% of its GDP annually in lost productivity.

She urged Ghanaians to “look inward and eat local,” stressing that local foods such as millet, sorghum, cowpeas, garden eggs, kontomire, and other indigenous crops are nutrient-rich and affordable, forming the cornerstone of good health and sustainable food systems.

Under its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition Project, WOMEC is working with partners to promote:

Stronger leadership and investment in nutrition across all levels,

Policy actions supporting sustainable local food systems, and

Media advocacy to increase public awareness and accountability.

Dr. Binka called on government, development partners, civil society, health professionals, farmers, schools, and the public to play their part in ensuring every Ghanaian has access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food.

“Together, we can build a Ghana where every meal nourishes, every farmer thrives, and every citizen enjoys the right to good food,” she concluded.