Accra: Mr Selorm Odjoh-Anyomi, Chief Executive Officer of Eden Dew Farms, has called on journalists to advocate for climate smart agriculture to address pressing issues related to nutrition, health, and sustainable agri-food systems. He emphasized that climate smart agriculture involves agricultural practices, innovations, and technologies aimed at simultaneously boosting productivity, enhancing resilience, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, without deviating from traditional agriculture methods.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Odjoh-Anyomi made these remarks during a two-day training workshop designed to enhance the media’s capacity on nutrition, health, and agri-food systems for selected media practitioners in the Volta and Oti Regions. He highlighted home gardening as a viable solution to food security challenges in Ghana, especially in the face of limited arable land and deforestation. He also pointed out the rise of non-communicable diseases linked to nutrition, noting the health risks posed by chemically infused foods.
Professor Francis B. Zotor, Director and Trustee of Africa Catalyzing Action for Nutrition (AfriCAN), stressed the importance of media involvement in understanding and reporting on nutrition issues. He expressed hope that collaboration would empower participants to effectively promote the nutrition agenda in the Volta and Oti Regions and beyond.
The workshop is organized by the University of Health and Allied Sciences, in collaboration with Women, Media and Change (WOMEC), through the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health (FNBSPH). Professor Frank Baiden, Principal Investigator of the UHAS-NKABOM Mastercard Project and Dean of FNBSPH, discussed the UHAS-NKABOM initiative, a partnership involving seven Ghanaian institutions and McGill University, supported by a $9.8 million grant from the Mastercard Foundation.
Prof Baiden highlighted the project’s goal to tackle graduate unemployment by integrating entrepreneurship across all new and existing programs. He also drew attention to stunting as a significant yet overlooked public health challenge, emphasizing its long-term impact on mental development, educational attainment, and chronic disease risk.
Ms Roseline Ashigbui, CEO of DELCHRIS, underscored the importance of entrepreneurship in public health for fostering innovative health solutions, reducing donor dependency, and expanding career opportunities beyond traditional roles. She advocated for the development of social enterprises and health startups, along with health policies that drive systemic change.