Nutrition is more than health —A cross-sectoral policy priority

When a child is born un­derweight in Ghana, the Ministry of Health takes the blame. When a schoolchild strug­gles to learn because of hunger, the education sector is blamed. When families cannot afford diverse foods, it is seen as a problem for agriculture. But in truth, these are not separate problems, they are pieces of the same puzzle.

Nutrition is not just about hospi­tals and clinics. It is about farms, schools, social protection, and governance. Yet Ghana continues to treat it as a health-sector issue. The result is fragmented inter­ventions, duplicated efforts, and policies that never add up to real change.

Take agriculture, for example. Too often, the focus is on increas­ing yields of cash crops rather than improving the diversity of foods available to families. Ed­ucation? School feeding programmes fill stom­achs but often fail to nourish minds because the meals lack essential nutrients. Social pro­tection? Cash transfers help households survive but don’t always ensure children eat balanced meals.

This is why Ghana must adopt a cross-sectoral approach to nutrition policy. Nutrition targets should be integrated into the performance indicators of every ministry; from agriculture to education to finance. A school feeding programme should not be judged only by how many children are fed, but by whether those meals improve nutrition out­comes. Agricultural policies should measure success not just in tonnes of maize, but in whether families can access affordable vegetables, beans, and protein.

Coordinating this requires leader­ship from the very top. A National Nutrition Council under the presi­dency could drive this integration, ensuring that all sectors pull in the same direction and are accountable for results.

The reality is simple: no minis­try can fix malnutrition alone. But together, through cross-sectoral policies that recognise nutrition as the foundation of development, Ghana can finally break the cycle.

Feature article by Women, Me­dia and Change under its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition Project in collaboration with Elea­nor Crook Foundation