The President of FEST Foundation, Prof. Richard Jinks Bani, has reiterated the organization’s commitment to ensuring food security for all Ghanaians.
Speaking to Starrfm.com.gh during the FEST Food Security Lectures held at the Nurses and Midwifery Council in Accra, Prof. Bani emphasized that the ultimate goal of the foundation is to make food available and accessible to everyone.
“Food on the table for everybody, that is our objective,” Prof. Bani stated, highlighting the importance of addressing the challenges in the agricultural value chain.
According to Prof. Bani, the FEST Foundation has been organizing public lectures to bring stakeholders and experts together to identify problems and find practical solutions to ensure food security.
“This is not the first time we’re organizing a public lecture. The idea is to bring to the fore the challenges we have in getting, attaining our full security,” Prof. Bani explained.
The FEST Food Security Lectures, which started in 1996, aim to promote knowledge acquisition and sharing among stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
Prof. Bani noted that the foundation’s approach involves examining the entire value chain, from land acquisition to production, harvesting, transportation, storage, distribution, credit, and sales.
“We want to bring all this, constantly bring this to the fore of the public, so that the policy makers, the practitioners can take advantage of our free lectures that we give for knowledge acquisition,” Prof. Bani said.
The FEST Foundation’s efforts are aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2), which aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Africa has the potential to become a major player in global food markets, but realizing this potential will require addressing challenges such as food insecurity, malnutrition, and sustainable agricultural practices.
In Ghana, the agricultural sector plays a very significant role in the country’s economy, accounting for approximately 20% of the country’s GDP and employing around 50% of the workforce.
As the FEST Foundation continues its efforts to promote food security, Prof. Bani’s message is clear: “Food on the table for everybody, that is our objective.”
