FEST Foundation calls for action on food security

The President of FEST Foundation, Professor Richard Jinks Bani, has emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to tackling food security challenges in Ghana.

Speaking to Starrfm.com.gh during the FEST Food Security Lectures held at the Nurses and Midwifery Council in Accra, Prof. Bani underscored the importance of engaging stakeholders to identify and address key agricultural issues.

“This is not the first time that we’re organizing a public lecture,” he noted. “The idea is to bring to the fore the challenges we have in attaining full food security. We want stakeholders and experts to help us identify the problems and propose practical solutions.”

The lecture series, which is now in its fourth edition, was first introduced in 1996 with Professor Emeritus Doku as the keynote speaker. Prof. Bani explained that after a long hiatus, he took the initiative to revive the program to highlight agricultural challenges across the value chain.

“Our motto is ‘food on the table for everybody,’” he said. “To ensure that, we must address issues from land acquisition, production, harvesting, transportation, storage, distribution, and credit access. These are crucial steps that many people overlook.”

Prof. Bani stressed that FEST Foundation’s work is entirely self-funded, with the goal of providing free public knowledge to policymakers, practitioners, and the general public.

Following the lectures, Prof. Bani’s team compiles and studies the insights shared during the discussions to develop recommendations for policymakers and industry players.

“We document the information gathered, analyze it, and provide recommendations,” he explained. “Our doors are always open for consultation and advice, and we do this for free. We believe in making a meaningful contribution to agricultural development in Ghana.”

He also referenced past research conducted by the foundation, including a 2008 national study on warehouse availability, which sought to improve storage infrastructure across the country.

Prof. Bani concluded by reiterating that continuous engagement with policymakers and the public is essential to addressing Ghana’s food security challenges effectively.