Ghana has achieved a Global Hunger Index (GHI) score of 13.9 for 2024, marking significant progress in its fight against hunger and malnutrition. This score places the country in the “moderate hunger” category and positions it ahead of many of its regional peers, including countries like Niger (34.1) and Liberia (31.9), which face far more severe hunger challenges.
The GHI measures hunger based on four key indicators: undernourishment, child wasting, child stunting, and child mortality. Ghana’s score reflects improvements in food security and nutrition over the past decade, with the country successfully reducing malnutrition and improving access to healthcare.
Key government initiatives, such as the Planting for Food and Jobs program, have been instrumental in boosting agricultural productivity, increasing food availability, and tackling rural hunger.
Similarly, the expansion of school feeding programs has improved nutrition for children, particularly in rural areas. Additionally, the National Nutrition Policy and healthcare interventions have helped reduce child stunting and wasting, key indicators of malnutrition.
Despite this progress, Ghana’s score still indicates the presence of moderate hunger, suggesting more work is needed to achieve long-term food security. Issues such as rural poverty, unequal access to nutritious food, and significant regional disparities continue to affect certain parts of the country, particularly in the northern regions.
Experts stress the need for sustained efforts to address chronic malnutrition, improve access to affordable and diverse diets, and strengthen healthcare systems.
Ghana’s GHI score also compares favorably to the global average of 18.3 and the Sub-Saharan African average of 26.8, reinforcing its leadership in West Africa. However, the 2024 GHI report highlights a worrying global trend, with hunger stagnating in many parts of the world, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The global average of 18.3 represents only a slight improvement from 18.8 in 2016, emphasizing the ongoing challenges in fighting hunger worldwide.
While Ghana’s achievements serve as an example for other West African nations, the report stresses that global hunger remains a significant issue. An estimated 733 million people worldwide still lack access to sufficient calories, and 2.8 billion cannot afford a healthy diet. The rise in acute food insecurity, exacerbated by conflicts and the weaponization of starvation, further underscores the urgency of addressing hunger.
In Ghana, continued efforts to improve agricultural practices, strengthen food systems, and address regional disparities will be critical in further reducing hunger and malnutrition.
Source:thehighstreetjournal.com