Nutrition
Power in Every Bite: How food fortification is strengthening Ghana’s health
Did you know that a simple bowl of gari or salt on your table might already be helping fight malnutrition?
Across Ghana, everyday foods are being fortified with essential nutrients quietly and powerfully supporting the health of millions. This behind-the-scenes strategy, known as food fortification, is one of the most effective tools in the country’s fight against malnutrition.
While some children suffer from undernutrition, evident in stunting, wasting, and anaemia, others, especially adults, are grappling with obesity and diet-related illnesses. These issues not only affect public health but also hinder productivity and economic growth. In response, the government is strengthening its approach through food-based solutions that reach people where it matters most: their plates.
Understanding food fortification
Food fortification is the process of adding vital vitamins and minerals to commonly consumed foods to address nutrient deficiencies. In Ghana, staples like flour, salt, oil, and cereals are increasingly being fortified with iron, iodine, vitamin A, and folic acid. These enhancements target key health risks such as anaemia in women, birth defects in babies, and impaired growth in children.
The beauty of this intervention is its simplicity. People do not need to change their eating habits to benefit. By consuming fortified foods that are already part of the Ghanaian diet, families across the country can access better nutrition without added cost or effort.
Government’s role and broader goals
Government policies and partnerships have played a central role in advancing this effort. Through the enforcement of fortification standards and collaborations with local food producers, regulatory bodies like the Ghana Standards Authority and the Food and Drugs Authority are ensuring that fortified products meet safety and quality requirements. At the same time, health and agriculture ministries are working together to expand access to these foods and educate the public about their benefits.
Food fortification is also aligned with Ghana’s broader nutrition goals, including reducing child stunting and addressing anaemia among adolescent girls and pregnant women. It complements other strategies such as promoting exclusive breastfeeding, home gardening, and traditional food preservation methods.
With continued government leadership, regulatory support, and community awareness, fortified foods can become a silent but steady force in building a healthier, stronger Ghana, one meal at a time.
Feature Article by Women, Media and Change on its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition Project.
Mother’s Day is a celebration to honour mothers and individuals in the society. To commemorate the day tomorrow, The Spectator nutritional page today offers to prepare a sumptuous Guinea fowl meal with an accompanying snack to celebrate our mothers.
Ingredients
-2 cups of cooked rice
-Oil
-2 pounds of Guinea fowl
-1/2 tablespoonful of grinded ginger
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1/2 onion
1 cup frozen peas
-3 large carrots
-3 eggs
-3 tablespoonful of soy sauce
-2 tablespoonful of diced green onions
Preparation
-Cut guinea fowl into bite-sized pieces. Add ginger, salt, and garlic and allow it cook for about 2 minutes.
-Fry guinea fowl until it turns golden brown.
-Put a saucepan of fire and add a tablespoonful of oil.
-Stir in diced onion, garlic, and peas and carrots and other vegetables.
-Add rice and stir to coat. Stir occasionally until rice is warmed through.
-Add soy sauce to the rice and stir well
-Remove from heat and serve.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
The familiar curl of smoke from a mosquito coil may seem like a small comfort against buzzing pests, but behind that comfort lies a hidden danger.
According to Dr Lawrencia Osae-Nyarko of the Public Health Research Unit at CSIR-WRI, the smoke carries synthetic chemicals that once inhaled, can irritate lungs, trigger adverse reactions, and silently worsen the health of vulnerable groups-children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
Her remarks framed discussions at the second stakeholder meeting of the Clean Air Fund (CAF) project, spearheaded by the Presbyterian Relief Services and Development (PRESED) in collaboration with CAF, on Tuesday.
The gathering assembled community leaders, facilitators, and experts to review recent data collection and chart a way forward in tackling air pollution and e-waste challenges.
According to Dr Osae-Nyarko, the smoke from the mosquito coils and other material burn to ward of mosquito or other insects rather exposes users to a number of dangerous substances that slowly create problems.
“In Ghana’s urban slums, where cramped living spaces often lack proper ventilation, the risks are magnified,” she warned.
“What people breathe in daily is not just mosquito coil smoke; it is a cocktail of pollutants from waste burning, traffic fumes, and household emissions. These exposures compound vulnerabilities and deepen health injustices,” she added.
Dr Osae-Nyarko, also an Advisory Member of PRESED, stressed that advocacy must highlight the disproportionate impact of pollution on marginalised groups.
She underscored the importance of involving children early: “When children learn about air pollution, they not only protect themselves but also become powerful messengers. Through artwork and storytelling, they can express the dangers and inspire change.”
International studies echo these concerns. Research in China and Malaysia found that burning a single mosquito coil indoors can release fine particulate matter equivalent to 75–137 cigarettes, along with carcinogens such as formaldehyde and bis (chloromethyl)ether (BCME)—both linked to lung cancer.
One study published in Environmental Health Perspectives reported that formaldehyde emissions from a single coil equaled those from 51 cigarettes, while the particulate matter load was comparable to heavy indoor smoking.
For children, pregnant women, and the elderly, these exposures are especially severe. Frequent use in poorly ventilated homes magnifies the danger, leading to respiratory irritation, asthma flare-ups, and long-term cancer risks.
The meeting agenda included an overview of the data collection process, key findings, and the formation of action groups to champion specific objectives. A newly developed training manual will guide facilitators and community members in communicating both the science and the lived realities of pollution.
Her advice was practical yet urgent: “If mosquito coils must be used, ensure proper ventilation. But more importantly, communities need safer alternatives and collective advocacy to demand cleaner air. This is not just about comfort—it is about survival.”
The call to action extended beyond households. Mr Emmanuel Nyarko Ankama, Coordinator for PRESED, urged Assemblies to enforce the registration of waste collectors, especially operators of ‘Aboboya’ tricycles.
“The fact is they can dump waste anywhere, which ends up being burnt and contributes to air pollution,” he cautioned.
Mr Joseph Oberesekun Kiddy-Kodua, Environmental Officer at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), reinforced the point: “By Ghana’s waste management policy, every waste collection company should be registered by the Assembly. Otherwise, it is an illegal activity.”
“As the project advances, the message is clear: everyday practices—from burning coils to disposing of waste—must be re-examined. With children, elders, and mothers at the heart of the struggle, the fight for clean air is as much about justice as it is about health,” noted Mr Ankama.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
