Title: Ghana’s Alarming Food Waste Crisis — A Call for Urgent Action

Ghana is facing an invisible but urgent crisis: food waste. Each year, the country discards food worth GH₵762.32 billion — nearly $64 billion USD — representing over 45% of its total food production. This staggering figure surpasses the global average of 30%, raising critical questions about efficiency, sustainability, and food security.

Ghana's Food Waste Crisis

The culprits? A large share of the waste comes from restaurants and schools, which account for nearly 40% of the total waste — about $25 billion annually. The waste is not just economic; it has profound social and environmental consequences. At a time when many households face food insecurity, the scale of discarded food is both paradoxical and preventable.

Zooming in on the Ashanti Region, we find a case study in microcosm: just 120 restaurants waste 320 metric tonnes of edible food each year — translating to over $2 million in losses. Extrapolated nationwide, the economic toll and environmental burden multiply exponentially.

This issue demands an integrated response:

• Policy reform to standardize food waste reporting and accountability.

• Education campaigns to shift consumer and institutional behavior.

• Incentives for redistribution, such as tax breaks for donations to food banks.

• Technology adoption, including food tracking systems and smart inventory tools.

  
  

As Ghana advances toward food security and sustainability goals, addressing food waste is no longer optional — it is essential.