Nutrition
‘Benefits of eating cocoyam’
Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta), also known as taro, is a nutritional root vegetable that offers several essential benefits.
-Cocoyam contains a high amount of dietary fibre, which prevents constipation. It helps with bowel movements and boosts the gastrointestinal system to help digest foods.
-Carbohydrates are among the nutritional values of cocoyam, which helps sustain energy. Eating cocoyam helps to maintain your energy level, especially for long days.
-It is beneficial to weight loss as cocoyam contains low fat and benefits the body’s overall fat intake.
-Cocoyam is a good source of vitamins and boosts the immune system.
-Vitamin C, vitamin B6 boost the immune system, and play important roles.
– Eating cocoyam helps regulate blood pressure, balance fluids, and help muscle and nerve function, as cocoyam is a good source of potassium and magnesium.
-The antioxidants in cocoyam help fight oxidative stress and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
-It contributes to blood sugar control and reduces high blood pressure. If you are at risk of diabetes or other serious conditions, incorporating cocoyam into your meals would be a good choice.
– It helps regulate blood pressure and reduces the risk of cardiovascular problems due to the low sodium content and potassium-rich nature of cocoyam.
-Promotes bone health as it contains calcium and phosphorus and is essential for maintaining strong bones.
-Cocoyam is gluten-free and a suitable food choice for people with gluten sensitivity and celiac disease.
-It helps to maintain weight management as it gives a full feeling. Including cocoyam in your diet will aid in your weight-loss journey. niyis.co.uk
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In March 2025, world leaders gathered in Paris for the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit, the most important global gathering on malnutrition of the decade. Over $30 billion in new financial commitments were pledged globally by more than 170 actors from 82 countries. Ghana was there. Ghana made commitments. The question now is: are those commitments enough, and will they be delivered?
Ghana made 10 commitments at the 2025 N4G Summit. One of the most significant is a pledge to spend at least $6 million annually from 2026 for the procurement of essential nutrition commodities including ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS), iron-folic acid tablets, vitamin A supplements, and anthropometric equipment for measuring child growth.
This financial commitment is meaningful. For years, Ghana’s nutrition programmes have depended heavily on donor funding, leaving services vulnerable to aid cuts and supply disruptions. A domestic budget line for nutrition commodities signals a shift toward ownership and sustainability. It also directly supports Ghana’s Nutrition for Growth commitments from the 2021 Tokyo Summit, several of which remain off track.
The Bigger Picture
The 2025 N4G Summit was about more than funding. It called for systemic change: embedding nutrition in food systems, health coverage, climate resilience, and gender equality. Every dollar invested in nutrition is estimated to return $16 to the local economy. Yet malnutrition still costs Ghana an estimated 6.4 per cent of its GDP annually. That is not a public health statistic. It is an economic emergency.
The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has acknowledged that converting summit outcomes into actionable change requires transparent policy dialogue and locally driven solutions.
Commitments made in Paris must be tracked, funded, and implemented in Ghana’s communities. Programmes must move from pilot scale to national coverage. That will not happen without sustained political will, dedicated domestic financing, and public accountability.
Commitments made on global stages matter. But they only become meaningful when they translate into services in communities. The question is not what Ghana promised in Paris. It is what Ghana delivers at home.
Feature article by Women, Media and Change under its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition project
Cabbage is very rich in fibre, the main supplier of roughage. This helps the body retain water and it maintains the bulkiness of the food as it moves through the bowels.
Thus, it is a good remedy for constipation and other digestion-related problems.
Ingredients
-1 large cabbage
– 4 large fresh tomatoes
– 1 large onion
– Pepper
-Garlic
-2 large salmon
-1 tin of mackerel
-2 large green pepper
-Salt to taste
Preparation
-Chop cabbage roughly and wash in a large pot of water
-Pour vinegar on it and wait until you make other preparations. Then drain.
-Heat coconut oil in a saucepan over medium heat
-Cook and stir onion in hot oil until onion turns dark brown.
-Blend tomatoes, green pepper, garlic and onion and add to the oil
-Add tomato paste, mackerel and salmon to stew
-Add cabbage, stir and cover to cook for 7 – 10 minutes
-Allow to simmer when it is soft and serve with rice, yam etc.
