Sallah stew

Muslims have a special method of preparing their Sallah stew. Everyone can attest to the fact that Sallah stew has a different aroma and taste.

In today’s edition, The Spectator would take readers through the process of preparing this festive stew.

Ingredients

2 pounds of meat

1/2 cup of oil

3 large onions

10 large tomatoes

2 peeled garlic clove

4 tablespoonfuls of celery leaves

3 scotch bonnet pepper, optional

2 basil leaves

1 teaspoonful of fresh thyme

1 canned tomatoes sauce, 15 ounce

1teaspoonful of curry powder

1 teaspoonful of white pepper

2 tablespoonfuls of smoked paprika

1 tablespoonful of maggie powder

2 green onion, sliced

Salt to taste

Method

-Cut and wash meat

-Boil meat with salt, and some chopped onions, garlic, and ginger in a medium pot until tender.

-Remove meat from the pot to dry. (Reserve the stock for later use).

– Put oil on fire and fry meat

-Grind or blend onions, pepper, tomatoes, garlic, parsley, celery, thyme, basil and scotch bonnet pepper.

– Add mixture to the oil and let it cook for sometime

– Add tomatoes puree, curry powder, white pepper, smoked paprika and bouillon powder and allow to boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes.

Stir the pot frequently to prevent the sauce from sticking to the pot.

Add meat stock to give stew an additional taste.

Add green onions. Adjust seasonings, sauce consistency with water/ stock and salt.

Serve warm with a desired side dish.

By Linda Abrefi Wadie

Malnutrition in Ghana: A policy crisis hiding in plain sight

Let's fight malnutrition in Ghana

For many Ghanaians, “malnutrition” is often misunderstood as simply a lack of food. But nutrition experts say the reality is far more complex and far more urgent. It is not just about being hungry. It’s about not getting the right nutrients at the right time, especially for children under five and pregnant women. While the consequences are dire, the real danger lies in how little political attention the issue receives.

According to the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, 12 per cent of children are underweight, and 6 per cent suffer from wasting, the most life-threatening form of malnutrition. Meanwhile, anaemia affects nearly 50 per cent of women of reproductive age, increasing risks during pregnancy and childbirth.

Nutrition interventions, like vitamin supplementation, school feeding, and treatment for severe malnutrition, are essential to saving lives and securing a healthy population. Yet only 0.4 per cent of the national health budget is allocated to nutrition-specific interventions. Many programs are heavily reliant on foreign aid, which is not only unsustainable but risky. The recent withdrawal of USAID support left a $156 million funding gap, threatening the availability of life-saving nutrition and health services.

The economic cost of this crisis is staggering. Ghana loses an estimated GH₵4.6 billion annually due to the long-term effects of malnutrition on productivity, education, and healthcare. Children who are stunted are more likely to struggle in school, earn less as adults, and suffer from chronic illnesses, all of which lock families into cycles of poverty.

But Ghana can reverse this trajectory. The experience of countries like Rwanda and Peru shows that with strong political commitment, dedicated budget lines, and multisectoral coordination, nutrition outcomes can improve dramatically.

That’s where the Nourish Ghana Project comes in. Led by Women, Media and Change (WOMEC) Organisation, the project aims to raise awareness and push for policy reform through advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and media mobilisation.