The wife of the Asantehe – Lady Julia has sought to remind Ghanaians about importance of eating healthy foods, drawing attention to the link between a healthy people and national development.
“Let us all make a declaration to eat healthily for the good of Ghana, because our wealth lies in our health,” she said.
She was speaking at the 3rd annual Lady Julia Osei-Tutu Nutrition Forum held in Kumasi.
According to her, obesity, which is the cause of poor, unbalanced nutrition and which used to be associated with the urban elite or the affluent in the Ghanaian society, is now common, specifically, among the youth.
“Nananom, we needn’t be rich to eat good, nutritious meals,” she urged.
As stated by her, Ghana is endowed with all the natural and inorganic foods required for the body; however, urbanisation, westernisation and sedentary lifestyles have become the norm and this has caused people to rely on foods with questionable nutritional values.
“Improved nutrition should be complemented with professional packaging/preparation and delivery to complete the cycle,” she said.
The establishment or the enforcement of standard guidelines as suggested by her to the state apparatus will guard against the massive and uncontrolled importation of foods with skeptical nutritional qualities.
“Life expectancy has dropped to an all-time low, and yet the underlying factors, which do not require any huge financial intervention, are not being addressed,” she said.
“Let’s remember we eat to live, but it is not just about any food that will guarantee or secure our health,” she reiterated.
She however indicated that lack of media content on food security and nutrition is not helping the situation and hoped the situation improves.
She commended the organisers of the forum and the Headline Sponsor; Coca Cola for the sustained and immeasurable financial, logistical and material assistance designed to improve upon the nutritional well-being of Ghanaians.
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By: Selassie A. Amissah Mensah /citifmonline.com/Ghana