By Philip Antoh
A staggering GHC762.32 billion is squandered annually in Ghana as over 15.1 million citizens grapple with food insecurity, according to recent findings. It’s a troubling paradox as more than 3.2 million metric tons of perfectly edible food go to waste yearly, equivalent to a hefty $64.6 billion. This stark reality unveils that nearly half of the Ghanaian population, approximately 49.1 percent, struggles to access sufficient and nourishing meals.
Startling revelations unveiled at the 2025 Meatless Monday Ghana Earth Day Lecture by Professor Mariam Asantewah Nkansah shed light on the breakdown of this food waste epidemic. Research shows that a sizable 66 percent of the discarded food comprises fruits and vegetables, with root crops and grains accounting for 40 percent and 21 percent, respectively.
Concerningly, projections suggest that by 2029, a disheartening 11.7 percent of Ghanaians are expected to face food insecurity, with an average of 84 kg of food wasted per person annually – surpassing the global average of 74 kg reported by the United Nations Environmental Programme.
Looking at the bigger picture, a global estimate reveals a staggering 931 million tons of food going to waste each year, resulting in an astronomical cost of approximately $1 trillion – a shocking 17 percent of the total food supply meant for consumption.
Delving deeper into the issue, Professor Nkansah highlighted distinct patterns of food waste in developing versus developed nations. While developing countries like Ghana primarily witness waste during production and distribution stages, developed nations encounter it more significantly at the consumption stage.
In Ghana specifically, a worrisome 40 percent of food waste, equivalent to a hefty $25 billion, originates from restaurants and schools. Prof. Nkansah revealed that a substantial chunk of daily discarded food in kitchens and on plates amounts to an average of 2.89 kg, sufficient to feed around 5,000 individuals – data collected from a three-week survey at 49 different eateries.
Moreover, despite the current hefty $3 billion spent on importing rice and poultry products, Ghana has imported even more under previous administrations. This poses a pertinent question about the prudent use of resources, particularly amidst escalating food insecurity challenges.
In light of these alarming figures, Professor Nkansah and Mr. Emmanuel Fiagbey from Meatless Monday Ghana Earth Day have rallied for urgent action to curb food waste.
They have called for a united effort, with the media playing a crucial role in advocating for improved food waste management practices and resource efficiency to ensure a sustainable and food-secure future for all Ghanaians.