The School of Agriculture, together with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has organised an event to mark the celebration of the 41st World Food Day on the theme, “Our Actions are our future – Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life”. The day which is marked on October 16 each year affords an opportunity to discuss issues relating to hunger, poverty and food security. This year’s celebration provided the opportunity to enhance awareness on the impact of the pandemic and climate change on food security around the world.

Delivering her opening remarks, the Dean of the School of Agriculture, Prof. Irene Susana Egyir, who chaired the function, elucidated the different components of the theme for the celebration, noting that the contribution to change lies with people. On this note, Prof. Egyir encouraged the audience/participants to be actively involved in shaping the food systems since the way food is produced, cooked and preserved are integral parts of how the agricultural food systems work.

Dean of the School of Agriculture, Prof. Irene Susana Egyir

Prof. Boateng Onwona-Agyeman, Provost, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, who represented the Acting Vice-Chancellor, warmly welcomed all the participants to the University. Prof. Onwona-Agyeman advised the gathering on the relevance of observing the Covid-19 prevention protocols throughout the celebration, since individuals’ actions and inactions could cause a surge or decline in the pandemic cases.

The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture (Crops), Mr. Yaw Frimpong Addo, in a keynote address delivered on behalf of the Minister for Food and Agriculture, enumerated initiatives undertaken by his Ministry to prioritise the nation’s food needs. These, according to him, include a sensitisation exercise to re-orient farmers and the citizenry about the need for a shift from old farming practices to Agribusiness. He further pointed to using research as the medium of modernising Agriculture to strengthen food systems.   

Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture (Crops), Mr. Yaw Frimpong Addo  

Madam Ifeoma Esther Charles-Monwuba, Director, United Nations Office for Project Services, who delivered a speech on behalf of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, noted in her address how Covid-19 and climate change have worsened and widened global economic inequality. She reiterated the need for all to make healthy food choices with the hope of salvaging this planet.

Mr. Ndiaga Gueye, Country Representative of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, advocated for a transformation of the agricultural food systems to ensure that people everywhere have access to affordable and nutritious food. He said that such transformations can happen with collaboration and commitment from interactions between governments, non - governmental organisations, civil society organisations (CSOs), academia and farming based organisations.

Mr. Ndiaga Gueye, Country Representative of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation

In brief remarks, the World Food Programme Representative in Ghana, Ms. Anna Mukiibi-Bunnya, called on efforts to enhance food security to be integrated with climate change at all levels. She highlighted the threats farmers are also facing in accessing adequate nutritious and healthy diets due to the effects of Covid-19 and climate change on the fragile food systems.

Earlier in the programme, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MOFAD) announced that the Ministry is poised towards ending hunger, malnutrition and poverty. She drew attention to the Ministry’s major challenge of over exploitation of fisheries resources and stated the long-term measures MOFAD had put in place such as intensifying the fight to end illegal fishing activities in both marine and inland fishing communities, reviewing existing fisheries legislation, implementing annual closed seasons and improving fisheries infrastructure.

Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MOFAD) 

As part of the observance of this year’s World Food Day, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) donated 200 packed food for participating students, while Amen and Amen Institute donated trucks full of foodstuffs to the less privileged.

The ceremony was interspersed with sketches, choreography, gymnastics display and musical interlude from students of the School of Agriculture, School of Performing Arts, Amen and Amen Institute and the Ghana Navy Regimental Band respectively. To climax the ceremony, Ghana and United Nations flags were hoisted as a symbol of the celebration.

The ceremony was attended by faculty, staff and students of the School of Agriculture. Also present were Mr. Kwesi Amo Hipson, Chief Director, MOFAD, Mr. Samuel Quartey, Special Advisor to the Minister, MOFAD, other national directors of MOFAD and UN officials.

Source: https://www.ug.edu.gh/news/celebration-2021-world-food-day | 25 Oct, 2021