FFAA commissions Ghana Agricultural Food Loss Recovery Warehouse to address food security | Science & Environment

Food for All Africa (FFAA) has held a durbar to officially commission the Ghana Agricultural Food Loss Recovery Warehouse at Shai Hills to focus on recovering excess food to support vulnerable members of society.

In line with its mission to prevent food wastage and the organization’s seven-year commitment to working with over two million Ghanaians, Food for All Africa, operating through the Ghana Agricultural Food Loss Recovery Warehouse, has successfully salvaged more than 40,000 kilograms of watermelon and tomatoes with the help of a few farmers.

The Executive Director of FFAA, Chef Elijah Addo addressing the gathering during the official commissioning under the theme: “Water is life, Water is food, Leave no one behind” said the organization was committed to addressing food security and raising awareness about hunger by creating sustainable food system to mark this year’s UN World Food Day celebration.

“UN World Food Day serves as a powerful reminder of the challenges we face addressing food security and ensuring that everyone has access to safe and nutritious food.

Between 2021 and January 2023, Food for All Africa has made a significant impact, distributing over two hundred thousand food boxes to assist more than one million households”, highlighted by Chef Elijah.

Chef Elijah Addo also emphasized that Ghana’s agricultural sector experiences significant food wastage, particularly during seasonal surpluses.

He mentioned that FFAA initially operated in the Eastern, Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Central regions, but the onset of COVID-19 prompted them to extend their efforts to other regions.

Present at the event, the Agricultural Director for the Shai Osudoku District, Madam Esenam Bonsu, congratulated Food for All Africa for the initiative to stop hunger and recover food for vulnerable persons in society.

Madam Esenam Bonsu mentioned that, although other sectors contribute to the country’s GDP, agriculture stands tall and continues to transform lives in the country.

Madam Esenam emphasized the importance of ensuring that every individual has access to a healthy diet and sufficient food, both in terms of physical access and economic affordability.

She however recognized the untapped potential in the agricultural sector within the Shai Osudoku district.

Specifically, she pointed out that the district produces a significant number of fresh mangoes, close to 10,000 metric tons, but a substantial portion goes to the market, leaving the majority going to waste.

“…but with Food for All Africa, I am optimistic that such surpluses will be recovered to feed the vulnerable and meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) II, which is no hunger”, she added.

Mr Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at FFAA, explained that the decision to establish a food recovery warehouse at Shai Hills was a strategic one.

“This choice was primarily based on the proximity of the warehouse to the Eastern region, where many of the farmers FFAA collaborate with are located”, he explained.

He highlighted the convenience of having farmers near the warehouse, making it easier to prevent food from going to waste.