The Department of Food Science and Technology of the College of Science and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have organised the fifth KNUST Food Festival on 14th February, 2022 at the Royal Parade Ground.
The festival, with the theme “Achieving the SDGs, our food, our Culture, our Health,” saw the attendance of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo, the Provost of College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Charles Ofosu Marfo, Heads of Departments, Staff, Headteachers and students of invited Senior High Schools.
Several food stalls representing Ghana's sixteen (16) regions were on display during the event, along with food products/innovations from some of the University's departments, international students, and other.
In his welcome address, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo, stated that Ghana has been plagued by non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and others over the years. He explained that, while our Country's life expectancy has grown, we haven't yet reached the ideal that we believe we must achieve as a nation. The typical Ghanaian life expectancy is around 65 years, but we can do better, and one way to do so is through our cuisine, he stated. “Food plays a massive role in achieving the SDGs. Our culture and our food are almost inexplicably linked. They cannot be separated from each other. If we put the needed importance on our local delicacies, in the end, life expectancy would improve due to the health benefits from these foods,” he added.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Daniel Y. A. Duah, the Acting Dean of the International Programmes Office, shed more light on the Festival’s theme. He defined the various components of the theme and its importance to the event. The theme, he explained, presents KNUST with an opportunity to contribute its quota to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while promoting Ghana’s culture, food, good health, and wellbeing. The adoption of the SDGs in 2015 was a universal call to ensure that the planet is protected and commits us to promote a peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive world, where food, health and culture are featured prominently.
Professor Duah further added that KNUST recognises the importance of achieving the SDGs as demonstrated through the Food Festival to push the academic frontiers based on research and community impact aimed at improving local adoption strategies for the SDGs. “According to the United Nations (2019), an estimated 690 million people (or 8.9 per cent of the world population) are hungry. This suggests that we might not be able to achieve the "zero hunger" target by 2030. It is thus refreshing to note the aim of this food festival which is to promote local content and products in Ghana and harness the interconnectivity of the SDGs”, he said.
At the end of the Festival, Central Region was given the “Best Food (Taste)” award. Northern Region and Western Region were adjudged second and third respectively. Ashanti Region won the award for “Best Presentation of Varieties” while Bono East and Volta, Oti and Greater Accra came up in second and third.
The “Best International Dish” award went to a group of exchange students from Cameroon. Participants from Sierra Leone and Germany triumphed in second and third respectively.
At the departmental level, the Departments of Animal Science, Horticulture, and Food Science were appropriately recognised.
All awardees received certificates.
