Nutrition
Accountability in Nutrition: Who holds Ghana’s leaders responsible?
Ghana’s fight against malnutrition is undermined not by a lack of knowledge, but by lack of accountability.
Nutrition experts and policymakers alike know what works: exclusive breastfeeding, micronutrient supplementation, food fortification, school feeding programs, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
Yet, programs stall, targets are missed, and resources are underfunded with little consequence for those responsible.
Who is responsible when exclusive breastfeeding stagnates below global targets? Who answers for the fact that nearly half of Ghanaian women suffer from anaemia despite repeated pledges to improve maternal nutrition? Who explains why stunting rates remain at 18 percent when the target was 15percent by 2025? Who ensures that Nutrition for Growth (N4G) commitments made at the international stage are translated into local budgets and services? Who accounts for nutrition budgets that fall short of the 2-3 percent allocation recommended for effective programming? Etc.
Accountability must be made non-negotiable. Parliament must demand annual nutrition accountability reports from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), tracking not only policy promises but also tangible outcomes.
The NDPC, as the apex planning body, must take the lead in monitoring nutrition indicators across all sectors and ensuring that district-level plans integrate nutrition targets.
Civil society must step up, using evidence and data to spotlight the gaps between rhetoric and reality. Tools such as nutrition scorecards and citizen report cards can empower communities to track progress and demand answers. Media outlets must treat nutrition as a governance issue, not just a health story buried in lifestyle pages.
District assemblies, as the frontline implementers of nutrition programmes, must be held accountable for translating national policies into community-level action. They should report regularly on the status of school feeding programmes, community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) services and local food security initiatives.
The public also has a role to play. Citizens must demand better interventions that addresses their nutritional needs, by asking their representatives what concrete steps have been taken to improve nutrition in their communities. Communities can use vox pops, community radio, and grassroots dialogues to hold leaders accountable. The Food Systems Transformation and Nutrition Security (FSTNS) Cross-Sectoral Planning Group (CSPG), led by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), which serves as Multi-Sectoral Platform for Food Security and Nutrition should serve as a coordination hub where stakeholders review progress and identify bottlenecks in real time.
International partners must not shy away from asking tough questions about financing gaps and delayed reforms. Accountability should have teeth, public hearings for nutrition budget performance, independent audits of feeding programmes and performance-based funding mechanisms that reward results, not just promises.
Countries like Rwanda have shown that strong political commitment backed by rigorous accountability mechanisms can dramatically reduce malnutrition rates. Ghana can learn from such examples, adapting successful models to our own context.
Without accountability, nutrition will remain a political talking point instead of a development reality. Ghana cannot afford empty commitments. Our children deserve measurable results, and our leaders must be held responsible for delivering them.
Feature Article by Women, Media and Change under its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition Project
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when the world turns pink to remind us that early detection and prevention save lives. But beyond the screenings and campaigns, there’s another powerful prevention tool many people overlook: nutrition.
Emerging research shows that what we eat can influence our risk of developing breast cancer. Diets high in processed foods, red meat, and refined sugars can increase inflammation and disrupt hormones—conditions that support the growth of cancer cells.
On the other hand, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains provides the antioxidants and nutrients the body needs to protect cells from damage.
Foods like tomatoes, leafy greens, nuts, and fatty fish (such as salmon and sardines) are especially beneficial. They help reduce inflammation and support hormone balance, both critical in breast health. Meanwhile, limiting or avoiding alcohol, stopping smoking, and maintaining a healthy body weight are proven ways to lower one’s risk.
Nutrition alone isn’t a guarantee against cancer, but it’s a vital part of a healthy lifestyle that also includes regular exercise, adequate sleep, and routine breast checks.
At Women, Media and Change (WOMEC), we continue to advocate for women’s health through information and empowerment. We urge women everywhere to eat right, get screened, stay informed, and take charge of their well-being.
Every healthy choice brings you one step closer to prevention. The right diet doesn’t just nourish your body—it could help save your life.
Feature article by Women, Media and Change under its “Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition” Project.
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Ingredients
• 2 ripened plantains
• 6 eggs
• 1 bottle vegetable oil
• 2 large onions
• 2 large tomatoes
• Bell pepper (green, red, yellow) – 1 each
• Cheese (optional)
• 5 sausages
• Seasoning
• Salt to taste
• 3 tablespoonfuls of curry powder
• 2 tablespoonfuls of thyme powder
Method
Wash and cut the ripened plantains into smaller round shapes. Sprinkle some salt on them and mix thoroughly.
Preheat oil in a pan and fry the plantains until golden brown, then set aside.
Break the eggs into a bowl, add a pinch of salt and seasoning, and whisk together.
Pour some oil into a pan and add diced onions, bell peppers, and fresh tomatoes. Add chopped sausages and lightly season with a pinch of salt, seasoning, curry, and thyme powder.
Allow to fry for about three minutes, then pour the mixture into the bowl of whisked eggs and mix to form a uniform blend.
Pour the mixture into a pan and neatly arrange the fried plantains on top. Sprinkle cheese over it (optional).
Cover the pan and cook under low heat for about 15 to 20 minutes until set and golden.
Remove from heat, transfer onto a flat plate, and cut into triangular slices.
Serve and enjoy your delicious Plantain Pizza! 🍕
By Theresa Dzifa Tsetse
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