By Gideon Amuah | Email – gideon.amuah@gmail.com
When we speak of food security in Ghana, the conversation too often stops at quantity; tons of maize harvested, sacks of rice imported, or yams exported abroad. But true food security goes far deeper. It is not only about having enough to eat; it is about what we eat, and whether it sustains our health, fuels our productivity, and secures the nation’s future. This is where Ghana faces a quieter but equally dangerous crisis: hidden hunger.
Hidden hunger describes a condition where diets meet calorie needs but lack essential vitamins and minerals. In Ghana, many households fill their plates with cassava, maize, rice, or gari, yet consume too little protein, vegetables, and fruits. A child may go to bed with a full stomach but still suffer stunted growth because their body is starved of iron, vitamin A, or zinc. UNICEF estimates that nearly one in five Ghanaian children under five is stunted, while anemia affects more than half of women of reproductive age. This is not just a health issue, it is a national development challenge.
The consequences are profound. Malnourished children struggle in school, undermining Ghana’s investments in education. Adults weakened by poor diets have lower productivity, reducing national output. Malnutrition in pregnant women raises maternal risks and affects newborn survival. Over time, hidden hunger erodes human capital, the very foundation of a country’s growth. The World Bank has estimated that malnutrition can shave as much as 3 percent off GDP in developing countries. For Ghana, that translates into billions of cedis lost every year simply because our people are not adequately nourished.
This is not unique to Ghana. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 200 million people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. Even as harvests improve in some regions, diets remain dangerously unbalanced. Countries that focus only on food volume, without addressing dietary quality, risk building “full but fragile” societies, where hidden hunger quietly undermines progress.
Yet solutions are within reach. Nutrition-sensitive agriculture is one pathway. Farmers can diversify beyond staples to include legumes, leafy greens, and biofortified crops like orange-fleshed sweet potatoes rich in vitamin A. Public investment in school feeding programs should go beyond filling bellies with starch; it should expose children to balanced meals with beans, eggs, and vegetables. Fortification programs, such as iodized salt or iron-fortified flour are cost-effective and proven tools that can reach millions.
The private sector also has a role. Food processors can produce affordable, nutrient-enriched foods for mass consumption. Retailers and supermarkets can promote healthier diets through better product placement and consumer education. Civil society and the media must amplify awareness, shifting cultural perceptions so that nutrition is seen not as a luxury, but as a necessity for every Ghanaian family.
Here, coordination is key. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health must work hand in hand, aligning farming policies with nutritional goals. It is not enough to grow maize and rice at scale; policies must also ensure the availability and affordability of diverse foods that combat deficiencies. The Ministry of Education, through school feeding initiatives, can reinforce the shift toward nutrition-focused food security. Public–private partnerships can strengthen local food processing, ensuring nutritious foods are both accessible and affordable.
Food security must evolve from a narrow focus on calories to a holistic vision of nutrition. A nation cannot thrive on starch alone. If Ghana is to unlock its human potential, we must nourish both the stomach and the mind. Hidden hunger may be invisible, but its costs are visible everywhere—in classrooms where children cannot concentrate, in hospitals treating preventable illnesses, and in workplaces slowed by low productivity.
The time has come for Ghana’s food security strategy to expand its horizon. Filling plates is not enough. The true test of food security is whether those plates carry the nutrients needed to build a healthy, resilient, and productive nation. Hidden hunger is the silent enemy within, and defeating it is central to Ghana’s future.