By Jones Anlimah
The Women, Media and Change (WOMEC) has intensified its advocacy for stronger leadership and investment in nutrition as Ghana joins the global community to mark World Food Day 2025 under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.”
In a statement issued in Accra, WOMEC underscored that food is not a privilege but a fundamental human right, and called for urgent, coordinated action to tackle the deepening crisis of food insecurity and malnutrition across the country.
The organisation noted that while women make up more than half of Ghana’s agricultural labour force, many remain excluded from land ownership, financing, and access to modern farming technologies, limiting their ability to feed their families and contribute fully to national food security.
WOMEC highlighted data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey showing that 6.7 percent of children under five suffer from wasting, 10.6 percent are underweight, and over 63 percent of children and 42 percent of women of reproductive age are anaemic. At the same time, overweight and obesity rates are climbing, especially in urban areas which reflect a growing double burden of malnutrition.
Describing malnutrition as both a public health and economic challenge, WOMEC warned that Ghana loses an estimated 6.4 percent of its GDP annually due to reduced productivity linked to poor nutrition. The organisation stressed the need for a shift toward locally produced, nutrient-rich foods such as millet, sorghum, cowpeas, garden eggs, kontomire, and fresh fruit, foods that are not only affordable but vital for healthy diets.
- Through its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition Project, WOMEC is urging:
- Government and policymakers to make nutrition a national priority in budget allocations and policy planning;
- Development partners to invest in Ghana-led nutrition initiatives;
- Civil society and the media to demand accountability in nutrition spending and raise public awareness;
- Farmers to adopt sustainable, climate-smart practices that enhance food diversity and resilience
- WOMEC further called on schools to promote healthy eating habits by serving locally sourced meals and teaching nutrition education, while encouraging the public to support farmers and reduce food waste.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to media-driven advocacy that amplifies community voices and drives policy change for a more inclusive food system. “This World Food Day must be more than a commemoration – it must be a call to action,” WOMEC stated. “Together, we can build a Ghana where every meal nourishes, every farmer thrives, and every citizen enjoys the right to good food.”
