By Daniel Agbesi Latsu
Ahamansu (O/R), Nov. 27, GNA – World Vision Ghana, Kadjebi Area Programme, has launched a Campaign dubbed “ENOUGH,” at Ahamansu, a farming community in the Kadjebi District of the Oti Region, to end child hunger and malnutrition.
Mr Kennedy Amponsah-Cheremeh, the World Vision Ghana Interim Cluster Manager, Agortime, stated that millions of children around the world were going without food every single day due to conflict, climate change, the lingering indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and rising costs.
He said as Ghana faced difficult economic conditions in addition to the aforementioned factors, the country was also witnessing an increase in malnutrition and hunger among children under five years old.
Mr Amponsah-Cheremeh said “Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child highlights the essential need for children to receive adequate nutrition and that the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2), seeks among other things, to end child hunger and malnutrition”.
The Interim Cluster Manager said, the World Vision Ghana believed there was ENOUGH in the Kadjebi District to provide every child with a life of plenty, joy, and hope.
He said through the Campaign, they sought to partner with government and relevant stakeholders to build “a world where every child enjoys enough nourishing food so they can thrive”.
Mr Amponsah-Cheremeh, said specifically, the ENOUGH Campaign would contribute to this Vision through two main strategic goals; by ensuring that children were made visible and heard in hunger, nutrition and food security-related policies at all levels; and making sure that they enjoyed better food security, nutrition and resilience, through prioritised services.
He said World Vision Ghana, a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organisation working in 16 communities in the Kadjebi District since 2012, believed they had “ENOUGH to end child hunger and malnutrition in the district”.
However, the workload of this campaign is enormous, and we can only overcome it if all hands are brought on deck”.
“World Vision Ghana is therefore calling on the Government of Ghana and all key stakeholders to implement existing or new policies and increase investment to end child hunger and malnutrition.
“By so doing, Provide ENOUGH nutritious food, funding for hunger and nutrition, ensure political will, household food security, quality and nutritious meals for children both in and out of school,” he added.
Nana Akua Safoa III, the Paramount Queen mother of the Ahamansu Traditional Area, on the ‘Call for Action,’ advised parents to provide children with nutritious food as an essential need for their growth, development, and overall health.
Mr Rashad Shaibu, the Kadjebi District Director of the Department of Food and Agriculture, called on the farmers to seek assistance for best farming practices for a bumper harvest to feed the district.
Mr Lambert Nyamekye Asamoah, a Public Health Officer from the Ghana Health Service, advised the parents to help implement the ENOUGH intervention successfully since they had the personnel to help achieve results.
There was a panel discussion on nutrition situation in the district, food insecurity situation in the district, the situation at school in the district.
There was also a Food demonstration and drama by Child Parliament and Kids Clubs, and the “Signing of Commitment Board” by the stakeholders present at the launch.
Presents were Chiefs, Assembly members, District Directors of Education, NCCE, Environmental Health Unit, among others.
GNA