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.
Despite RUTF’s proven ability to save lives, access to it in Ghana remains inconsistent. Many caregivers face long travel distances to treatment centres, only to be told that supplies have run out. Others rely on community health workers who do their best but struggle with stock shortages. The core challenge is simple: RUTF in Ghana depends heavily on donors, and when global priorities shift or funding gaps emerge, children suffer.
RUTF’s which stands for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food is a high-energy, micronutrient-rich food paste designed to treat severe acute malnutrition in children. This raises an important question: why is a life-saving product, essential to child survival, not covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)?
Including RUTF in NHIS would mark a monumental shift in how Ghana approaches child health. Firstly, it would ensure that access to RUTF becomes a national obligation, not an act of charity. Severe acute malnutrition is a medical condition, just like malaria, pneumonia, or diabetes, and must be treated as such. With RUTF included in the NHIS medicines list, families would be guaranteed treatment without depending on unpredictable donor supplies.
Secondly, integrating RUTF into NHIS is cost-effective. Untreated malnutrition leads to complications such as severe infections, developmental delays, and prolonged hospital admissions, all of which are far more expensive for the health system than early intervention. Investing in RUTF through NHIS would reduce long-term healthcare costs while strengthening Ghana’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 and SDG 3.
Thirdly, including RUTF in the scheme would help eliminate inequities. Currently, access varies by region. Children in remote or hard-to-reach communities often suffer the most. When RUTF is made universally available, every child is guaranteed treatment when they need it.
Additionally, NHIS coverage of RUTF would help streamline procurement systems, improve supply chain consistency and strengthen accountability mechanisms, a gap that currently undermines national nutrition efforts.
At its core, this is an issue of fairness, governance, and national responsibility. If Ghana truly prioritises child survival, then RUTF must be placed where it belongs, that is, within the NHIS as an essential, guaranteed treatment.
Feature article by Women, Media and Change under its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition project
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Ingredients
• 4 tablespoonful of milk powder
• 2 cups of fresh milk
• 1 cup of condensed milk (sweetened)
• 2 tablespoonful of vanilla custard powder
• 1 teaspoonful of vanilla essence
Optional: Sugar (only if you want extra sweetness, since condensed milk is already sweet)
Preparation
- Mix the custard base in a small bowl
- Dissolve the custard powder in ½ cup of cold milk to make a smooth paste
- Cook the custard and heat the remaining milk in a saucepan
- Stir in the Cowbell milk powder until fully dissolved
- Add the custard paste and cook on low heat, stirring continuously until it thickens slightly
- Remove from heat and stir in the condensed milk
- Add vanilla essence for flavour
- Taste and adjust sweetness if needed
- Let the custard mixture cool to room temperature
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 3–4 hours (overnight is best)
- Scoop into bowls or cones and enjoy your homemade custard ice cream
