Country Projects: Ghana

Overview

In developed nations, excess food is generally found in warehouses and supermarkets; in developing nations, excess food is often found on the farm. In Ghana, an estimated 40 percent of agricultural harvests goes to waste because poor farmers are unable to store their products safely and get them to market. The breakdown in the food chain exacerbates an already critical hunger problem in this nation, where 18 percent of children are under weight for their age, according to the United Nations Development Program.

The newly formed Ghana Food Aid Network (GhFAN) is addressing the problem by providing simple storage facilities that are suitable for Ghana's rural areas and arranging transportation to market. The program also helps farmers connect directly with buyers—eliminating the middleman—so they get higher prices for their crops. In exchange for GhFAN’s assistance, farmers donate 10 percent of their harvest to the food bank.

GhFAN plans to develop a multi-tiered food security plan that engages government, the private sector and the nonprofit community. GhFAN is investigating partnerships and program plans that will provide for:

  • Village-level food banking
  • An enhanced and expanded government-based school feeding program
  • A series of soup kitchens and food fairs
  • Development and acquisition of a fortified cocoa drink for use in school feeding programs.

GFN’s Involvement

GFN provided funding to help launch GhFAN’s operations and will continue to work with the organization to refine, implement and expand the work throughout the country. 

Learn more about the Ghana Food Aid Network.