The document discusses Ghana's progress in nutrition and food systems, noting its potential economic productivity losses if the current nutrition status remains unchanged. Despite good relative progress, concerns about anemia rates in women and the diversity of children's diets are highlighted. Ghana ranks favorably compared to its neighbors in commitment to reducing hunger and improving nutrition, but challenges remain, particularly in dietary diversity.

1. Workshop on Agriculture and
Food Systems for Nutrition
Ghana and Other Regional Successes
By Francis Zotor,
President of the African Nutrition Society
Image: Frontierofficial

2. For Ghana ‘business as usual’ on nutrition status
will be costly to its growing economy3
Projected productivity losses assuming status quo on nutrition status (million cedis), 2011-2020
*Based on present-day value of future productivity losses; demographic data based on the United
Nations population projection for Ghana and adjusted for the preliminary total population from the
2010 census; nutrition data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (GDHS), national
surveys, and other sources

3. Ghana is one of only four countries on course
to meet 4/5 WHA undernutrition targets4
Prevalence of under 5 stunting (%) Prevalence of under 5 wasting (%)
Prevalence of under 5 overweight (%) Rate of exclusive breastfeeding of infants under 6 months (%)
WHA TARGET 2025
WHA TARGET 2025
WHA TARGET 2025*
*Indicative based on available 2011 data; WHA undernutrition targets for stunting and overweight use base year of 2012
WHA TARGET 2025*

4. Ghana's progress is good relative to its neighbours
but the rate of anaemia in women is a concern5
Prevalence of under 5 stunting (%), 2014 Prevalence of under 5 wasting (%), 2014
Prevalence of under 5 overweight (%), 2014 Women of reproductive age with anemia (%), 2011

5. A closer look at Anaemia levels in Ghana - 1
Indicator
Under 5yrs
Male 139852 142421 114839
Female 127716 130369 105728
Total 267568 272790 220567
Above 5yrs 2013 2014 2015 (Jan-Oct)
Male 362297 226867 151421
Female 591855 493453 433230
Total 954152 720320 584651
Total Anaemia cases (All ages) 1221720 993110 805218
2013 2014 2015 (Jan - Oct)
Source: GHS - DHIMS II Report, 2013 - 2015

6. A closer look at Anaemia levels in Ghana - 2
Source: GHS - DHIMS II Report, 2013 - 2015

7. A closer look at Anaemia levels in Ghana - 3
Source: GHS - DHIMS II Report, 2013 - 2015

8. Diversity of diet is critical to improved
nutrition, health and human development
Ghanaian children aged 6-23 months consuming at least 4 food groups based on WHO/UNICEF guidelines (%), 20117
FAO reported in 2009 that the “Ghanaian diet largely
relies on starchy roots… the share of protein and of
lipids in the dietary energy supply is lower than
recommendations”8
Data suggests a
correlation in Ghana
between mother’s
level of education
and recommended
infant and young
children feeding
practices
*consumption based on the day or night preceding the survey

9. Ghana has a strong commitment to reduce
hunger and to improve nutrition9
Countries’ ranks for commitment to reduce hunger and commitment to improve nutrition
NCI (commitment to reduce malnutrition) rank

10. Country Indexes and Political Will
Country HRCI NCI HANCI GHI
Ghana 16 17 17 15.5
Togo 16 42 35 23.0
Burkina Faso 8 13 7 31.8
Cote D’Ivoire 37 14 25 26.3
Nigeria 42 34 40 32.8
Senegal 20 7 12 23.2
Guinea Bissau 44 38 45 30.3
Kenya 20 19 20 24.0
South Africa 10 15 9 12.4
Peru 6 2 1 9.1
HRCI: Hunger Reduction Commitment; NCI: Nutrition Commitment; HANCI: Hunger
and Nutrition Commitment Index; GHI: Global Hunger Index

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12. References
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13. References
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