Nutrition
Fact sheet about legume in Ghana
It is fascinating to note that:
- was released in 1992. It has medium maturing attribute, resistant to shattering, seed colour is cream, maturity period is 105-115 days and it yields 1.2 to 1.8 ton/h. Anidaso is applicable in Guinea Savanna, Sudan Savanna, transition and coastal Savanna zones. It can be processed for oil; can be used as meal for the animal feed industry; can be processed for human consumption and made into products including soy milk, soy flour, soy protein, tofu and many retail food products. Soybeans are also used in many non-food (industrial) products.
- was released in 1992. Its seed coat colour is cream, matures in 100-110 days, yields 1.8 t/ha. It is suitable for Guinea Savanna, Sudan Savanna, transition and coastal zones. It can be processed for oil; it can be used as meal for the animal feed industry; can be processed for human consumption and made into products including soy milk, soy flour, soy protein, tofu and many retail food products. Soybeans are used also in many non-food (industrial) products.
- was released in 2005. It has early-maturing attribute, has bold and creamy seed, tolerant to lodging, it is early-maturing (89-93 days), tolerant to major virus diseases of soybean in Ghana and has seed yield of 2.1t/ha. CRI-Nangbaar is applicable in Guinea Savanna, Sudan Savanna, transition and coastal Savanna zones. It can be processed for their oil: it can be used as meal for the animal feed industry; can be processed for human consumption and made into products including soy milk, soy flour, soy protein, tofu and many retail food products. Soybeans are also used in many non-food (industrial) products.
- was released in 2005. It has early-maturing (92-97 days) attribute, cream in colour, moderately resistant to virus, anthracnose. It is high-yielding (2.4 t/ha). CRI-Ahoto is suitable forGuinea Savanna, Sudan Savanna, transition and coastal Savanna zones. It can be processed for their oil; can be used as meal for the animal feed industry; can be processed for human consumption and made into products including soy milk, soy flour, soy protein, tofu and many retail food products. Soybeans are used also in much non-food.
- was released in 2018. Matures in 101 days, resistant to soybean rust disease, has yield potential of 3.4t/ha. It is resistant to pod shattering, it has stay-green trait, tolerant to drought even in the face of severe drought and resistant to lodging. It is applicable in Savanna and the forest-Savanna transition zones. It can be processed for oil; can be used as meal for the animal feed industry; can be processed for human consumption and made into products including soy milk, soy flour, soy protein, tofu and many retail food products. Soybeans are used also in many non-food (industrial) products.
- was released in 2018. It has high number of branches per plant, high number of pods per peduncle, resistant to lodging and the soybean rust disease and potential yield of 3.5t/ ha. CRI-Toondana is suitable for Savanna and the forest-Savanna transition zones. It can be processed for oil; can be used as meal for the animal feed industry; can be processed for human consumption and made into products including soy milk, soy flour, soy protein, tofu and many retail food products. Soybeans are used also in many non-food (industrial) products.
- soya bean variety was released in 1985. Its maturity period is 15 days, yield potential is 2.4 t/ha, susceptible to shattering, seed colour is cream, easy to thresh, excellent seed quality, good yield across many locations, tolerant to bacterial pustule and Cercospora leaf spot and good trap crop for Striga hermonthica. It is applicable in Guinea and Sudan Savanna, and transitional zone. It can be processed for oil; can be used as meal for the animal feed industry; can be processed for human consumption and made into products including soy milk, soy flour, soy protein, tofu and many retail food products. Soybeans are used also in many non-food (industrial) products.
- soya bean variety was released in 1985. It matures in 130 days, yield potential is 2.8 t/ha, seed colour is cream, susceptible to shattering, stable yield, easy to thresh, excellent seed quality and tolerant to common soy[1]bean pests and diseases. It is suitable for Guinea and Sudan Savanna, and transitional zone. It can be processed for oil; can be used as meal for the animal feed industry; can be processed for human consumption and made into products including soy milk, soy flour, soy protein, tofu and many retail food products. Soybeans are used also in many non-food (industrial) products.
- was released in 2003. Yield potential is 2.5-2.8 t/ ha, resistant to pod shattering (up to 3% shattering), medium maturity (110-115 days), seed colour is cream, excellent seed quality, high and stable yield across many environments, tolerant to common soy[1]bean pests and diseases, relatively tolerant to low soil P and trap-crop for Striga hermonthica. It is applicable in Guinea and Sudan Savanna, transitional and forest zones. It can be processed for oil; can be used as meal for the animal feed industry; can be processed for human consumption and made into products including soy milk, soy flour, soy protein, tofu and many retail food products. Soybeans are used also in many non-food (industrial) products.
Nutrition
Nourishing Ghana Starts with Us: The role of citizens
The success of Ghana’s fight against malnutrition does not rest solely in the hands of the government or donors. It depends on us, the citizens. Nutrition is not just a technical issue. It is a societal one, and every Ghanaian has a role to play in ensuring that no child goes hungry, no mother is left unsupported, and no community is forgotten.
As citizens, we must shift how we see nutrition: not as a private family concern, but as a collective national responsibility. Here’s how we can act:
1. Demand accountability
Every citizen has the right and responsibility to ask how public funds are being used to support nutrition. Are local clinics stocked with supplements? Are school feeding programmes working in your district? Are maternal health services adequately funded? Ask questions. Engage assembly members. Attend town hall meetings. Make your voice count.
2. Speak up, Speak out
Silence has a cost. When we fail to speak out against malnutrition, we normalise it. Use your platform, whether it is WhatsApp group, a radio show, a church gathering, or social media, to raise awareness. Normalise conversations about child feeding, food quality, and maternal health. Silence keeps systems broken. Voices drive change.
3. Support local solutions
Support or join community nutrition initiatives. Volunteer. Share what you know. Help spread accurate information about breastfeeding, healthy diets, and hygiene. If you are a farmer, teacher, trader, or youth leader, your knowledge and effort can make a difference. Change starts in our homes and neighbourhoods.
4. Protect the first 1,000 days
Whether you are a father, grandmother, neighbor, or employer, support pregnant women and caregivers during this crucial period. Encourage antenatal care. Help with child care. Prioritise nutritious foods. The first 1,000 days of a child’s life lay the foundation for everything that follows.
When citizens care, ask questions, take action, and show solidarity, we create the conditions for lasting change. Malnutrition is not inevitable. It is a symptom of neglect, and neglect ends when citizens choose to act.
Feature article by Women, Media and Change under its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition Project
Nutrition
Ga Kenkey
Ga kenkey, a staple in Ghanaian cuisine, is prepared with fermenting corn dough, then cooking a portion of it to create ‘aflata’ or ‘banku’. It is a popular food in the southern part of Ghana.
Ingredients:
-8 cups of dried corn
-Dried corn leaves (for wrapping)
-2 tablespoonful of stew
Preparation
-Soak corn in water overnight
-Grind corn into a powder form
-Mix the ground corn with water (dough)
-Mix part of the dough with water and put it on fire to cook
-Take the pot off the fire and mix in the remaining dough .
– When ready shape mixture into balls and set every prepared ball on a corn leaf.
– Cover each ball by wrapping the corn leaf around it
– Put water on fire. Add wrapped kenkey to boil for 45 minutes.
– When ready take them out carefully and serve them along with shito, ground pepper and fish.
