Almond cake

Ingredients

– 5 eggs

– I margarine cup of sugar

– ½ cup of all-purpose flour

– 1 teaspoonful of baking

powder

– -1/4 tablespoonful of

almond extract

– -2 cups of very finely

ground blanched almonds

– -1/8 tablespoonful of salt

and ½ of tarter

– 1tablespoonful of grated

lemon feel

– ¾ cup of finely chopped

blanched almonds.

Method

-In a large bowl, beat egg yolks until light gradually.

– Add half cup of the sugar, beating until thick lemon coloured.

-In a bowl combine flour and baking powder.

-Add almond extract and one cup of the grounded almonds (Mix until nuts are well distributed)

– In another bowl beat egg until foamy. Add salt and cream of tartar, beating until soft peaks form.

-In a remaining ½ cup sugar. Fold in lemon peel and remaining ground almonds.

-Stir a quarter of the egg mixture and blend. (Gently mould mixture).

-Turn into a greased 9 by 13- inch baking pan. (Bake in a 350 degrees oven for 20 to 25 minutes until top springs back when lightly touched.

– cool in pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Meanwhile prepare the lemon syrup.

– Cut cake into diamond- shaped pieces (make 4 length wise cuts in cake, then cut diagonally 11/4 inches apart).

-Pour hot syrup over cake and sprinkle with chopped almonds. Let cool completely.

Strong Government Leadership: The necessary ingredient in Ghana’s nutrition response

When we hear the word “malnutrition,” we often think of hunger. However, Ghana’s nutrition crisis is more complex and far-reaching than just empty stomachs. Today, thousands of children under five suffer from wasting (six per cent), stunting (18 per cent), and underweight (12 per cent). At the same time, more than 40 per cent of women of reproductive age are anaemic, and diet-related diseases are rising rapidly in urban areas.

What lies at the heart of this complex challenge? According to research, one powerful solution is being overlooked: strong and sustained government leadership.

Ghana already has policies in place, including the National Nutrition Policy, the School Feeding Programme, and Food-Based Dietary Guidelines, among others. However, these frameworks are only as effective as their implementation. Unfortunately, gaps in financing, outdated guidelines, fragmented coordination among ministries, and weak accountability systems continue to undermine progress.

A key opportunity for action lies in the USD 6 million annual pledge Ghana made at the 2025 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris. This commitment earmarked for essential nutrition commodities like supplements and therapeutic foods must move from pledge to practice. That means establishing a dedicated nutrition budget line, empowering government agencies to coordinate nutrition more effectively across sectors, and ensuring local governments are equipped to deliver nutrition interventions.

Other countries are leading the way. In Kenya, a dedicated parliamentary nutrition caucus is driving reforms. In Peru, legal frameworks protect nutrition budgets from political shifts. Ghana has the technical know-how and the institutional platforms; it now needs the political courage to act.

When the government prioritises nutrition, the ripple effects are enormous: better health outcomes, improved school performance, higher economic productivity, and reduced national health costs.

It’s time to treat nutrition not as a “social issue,” but as a strategic investment in Ghana’s future.

Feature article by Women, Media and Change (WOMEC) under its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition project.