Professor Marian Asantewah Nkansah, an Environmental Chemist, says Ghana’s food waste levels surpass global averages, despite millions facing hunger.
Speaking at a World Earth Month event by Communication Initiatives for Change (CIC), she noted Ghana’s per capita food waste is 84kg annually, surpassing the global average of 74kg.
She revealed that despite 3.6 million Ghanaians being at risk of hunger, 320 metric tonnes of edible food are wasted each year.
The event was on the theme “Managing Food Waste to Save the Environment.”
Prof. Nkansah noted that restaurants and schools contribute 40 per cent of national food waste, highlighting weaknesses in institutional food management.
A study conducted in 49 restaurants in the Ashanti Region found that each generated an average of 289kg of food waste annually. Prof. Nkansah described the trend as alarming and urged policymakers to prioritise food waste reduction.
She explained that food waste in landfills releases greenhouse gases, worsening climate change.
The environmental chemist recommended policy reforms targeting food production, distribution, and consumption to enhance efficiency and reduce waste. She also called for practices that promote reuse and sustainable use of food resources.
Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, Executive Director of CIC, stressed the environmental value of sustainable food systems. He noted that sustainable food practices are essential in tackling biodiversity loss, land degradation, water scarcity, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Source: GNA
