Nutrition
Benefits of Dawadawa
The African locust bean, commonly referred to as ‘Dawadawa’ by Ghanaians, is a local seasoning or ingredient used in soups and stews. A very popular soup ingredient globally, it is referred to as African locust bean, with the botanical name Parkia biglobosa.
It is rich in diverse nutrients and has great health benefits to Africans who consume it.
Good vision
Due to the natural ingredients and nutrients found in African locust bean, it makes it therefore one of the best treatments for bad vision and eye issues such as myopia, cataract, and others.
Stroke treatment
Stroke is caused when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly obstructed by any substance, which is fatal and dangerous to the health of individuals. Research shows that consuming a good amount of African locust bean will definitely help you against such sickness.
Reduces cholesterol
Cholesterol can cause blockage within the blood vessels, thereby reducing the flow of blood to the heart, which will definitely lead to heart issues. Eating locust beans can help your body burn the amount of cholesterol found in our bodies.
Treat diarrhoea
Due to the amount of tannin found in African locust bean, it will heal diarrhoea, which is a gastrointestinal disorder with symptoms of frequent watery bowel movements. Consuming African locust beans will help you relieve diarrhoea.
Treat hypertension
Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently above normal levels. Therefore, consuming a good amount will help people with hypertension.
Helps control blood sugar
The human body requires sugar to produce enough energy, but it should be stable; otherwise, if unstable or high, it can cause diabetes. Therefore, consuming African locust bean will help you control blood sugar levels.
Improve digestion
Eating a good amount of African locust beans can improve digestion. Good digestion will give you a healthy body, as the excretion process in the body will be facilitated to prevent constipation.
Heal wounds
As mentioned above, it can be used to treat ulcer wounds internally by eating the beans, as well as external wounds. The leaves, when pounded, can be applied on wounds, and the bean can be pasted on the wound to help heal it.
Reduce fever
Consuming a good amount of African locust bean can reduce fever. It was traditionally used to reduce high fever, which is still practised in some rural African communities.
The African locust bean is one of the best gifts of God to Africans, but sadly only a few see this. It consists of many vital nutrients which are cherished by the body. Therefore, regular consumption of healthy African locust beans will give you good health.
Source: https://gh.opera.
Soya beans is a highly nutritious plant-based food with several health benefits:
-Rich source of protein
-Contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein.
-Helpful for vegetarians and vegans as an alternative to animal protein.
-Supports muscle growth and repair.
– Heart Health
-Helps lower cholesterol levels
-Contains healthy unsaturated fats and fibre that support cardiovascular health
-Can be part of a heart-friendly diet
-Bone health
-Provides calcium (in fortified soy products), magnesium, and protein
-Soy isoflavones may help maintain bone density, especially in postmenopausal women
– May help manage menopausal symptoms
-Contains natural compounds called isoflavones (phytoestrogens)
-Some women experience reduced hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms with soy consumption
-Supports weight management
-High protein and fibre content can increase fullness and reduce hunger
-May help with maintaining a healthy weight
-Good for blood sugar control
-Has a low glycemic index
-Protein and fibre can help stabilise blood sugar levels
Ghana has nutrition policies. Ghana has nutrition targets. Ghana has nutrition programmes spread across multiple ministries and dozens of implementing partners.
What Ghana does not have is a single, empowered body responsible for leading, coordinating, and holding all this together. That is the gap a National Nutrition Council would fill, and stakeholders are calling for one now.
The case for a council
At a stakeholder engagement convened under the Nourish Ghana project in 2025, participants proposed the establishment of a National Nutrition Council to provide effective leadership and a governance framework for addressing malnutrition in Ghana. The meeting, which brought together policymakers, development partners, civil society organisations, and the media, highlighted a fundamental problem: nutrition responsibilities are fragmented across various ministries. Without a dedicated coordination body, efforts are duplicated, accountability is diffuse, and nutrition consistently loses out when budgets are tight.
The proposal echoes a model used in several countries that have made the fastest progress against malnutrition. Nigeria’s National Council on Nutrition, for example, recently pledged $107 million at the 2025 N4G Summit, a level of coordinated ambition that Ghana has struggled to match.
Ghana does have existing coordination structures worth acknowledging. The Scaling Up Nutrition Cross-Sectoral Planning Group (CSPG), established in 2012, was set up to harmonise planning, implementation, and monitoring of nutrition actions across sectors. It has produced real gains. But the challenge has been institutionalising those gains beyond project cycles, and analysts have called for an elevated national coordination body with presidential oversight to ensure genuine cross-sector accountability. A National Nutrition Council would go further, providing the dedicated financing and convening authority that the CSPG, as currently structured, does not have.
What a Council would do
A National Nutrition Council would provide political oversight and coordination across all sectors involved in nutrition, health, agriculture, education, social protection, and finance. It would track Ghana’s nutrition commitments, hold ministries accountable for delivery, and ensure that nutrition budgets are protected and spent effectively. Most importantly, it would give nutrition a permanent seat at the table where national development decisions are made.
The Time Is Now
Ghana made 10 commitments at the 2025 N4G Paris Summit. Translating those commitments into results requires a governance structure that does not currently exist. Establishing a National Nutrition Council is not a bureaucratic exercise. It is the institutional foundation without which Ghana’s nutrition ambitions will remain promises on paper. Leaders must act on this proposal without delay.
Feature article by Women, Media and Change under its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition project
