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| A cross section of participants |
To
collectively address biodiversity loss for sustainable development, Ghana joins
the international community to mark the 2019 International Day for Biological
Diversity in Accra under the local theme; “Promoting our indigenous Foods and
Medicines; A Catalyst for Achieving the Ghana beyond Aid Agenda.”
Stemming
from the international theme, “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health,” the
local theme was adopted to promote the consumption of our indigenous foods and
medicines within the parameters of sustainable development agenda, and in line
with our national development priorities as well as to leverage knowledge and
spread awareness of the dependency of our food systems, nutrition, and health
on biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.
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| Hon. Minister for Environment, Prof.Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng |
Speaking at
the event, the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof.
Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng admits that sustainable development cannot be
achieved with our dependency on the rich and indigenous foods and medicines.
Therefore as
the country aspires to be a country beyond aid, there is the need for an integrated
system to embrace the consumption of indigenous foods.
This he adds
can only be achieved by conserving the lands and water for food production,
safeguarding and restoring our agricultural landscape and seascapes,
implementing measures that support the production and consumption of healthy
foods rich in vitamins and minerals, well as supporting traditional foods,
culture and knowledge.
The Minister
further indicates that the decline and loss of agro-biodiversity and also
essential knowledge of traditional medicine and local food has direct link to
disease or health risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, malnutrition, and has
a direct impact on the availability of traditional medicines.
The
moderator, Samuel Dotse who also happens to be the CEO of HATOF Foundation was
of the view that healthy biodiversity is not a luxury- it is the
foundation of all life on earth.
It is
therefore important for the country to see biodiversity as the foundation for
our food and health and a key catalyst to transforming food systems and
improving human health - anything short of this, the very survival of humankind
will be threatened.
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| Expert Panel |
The event
created the platform for experts to discuss existing
policies, strategies, plans and other innovative approaches being adopted to
promote the production & consumption of our indigenous foods and medicines , and exchanged knowledge on how to encourage
citizens to embrace the grow, eat, and wear Ghana agenda.
Also in
attendance were students, civil society organizations, the private sector and
industry players, faith based organizations, and the academia.
A number of innovations were also exhibited in line with the theme of the programme. |
| Exhibitors |
