By Amadu Kamil Sanah, GNA
Accra, Oct. 15, GNA – The Amen Amen, a lead
advocacy institution mandated by the United Nations (UN) World Food Programme
(WFP) at the weekend organized a procession to kick-start the celebration of
the 2018, 38th World Food Day (WFD).
The float was to promote the advocacy and
awareness creation of the 2018 WFD celebration and beyond.
The Amen Amen Institute which has been
partners of the WFP for the past 21 years, also climaxed the float with a
donation of some food items to the Dzorwulu Special School and an amount of GHC
5,000 to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) towards the celebration of
the 38th WFD.
Some placards held by participants of the
procession include: ‘Let’s kill hunger before it kill us’, ‘A unified efforts
against hunger’, ‘Hunger is unacceptable’,’ Food scarcity is a canker: Food
must be made common’, ‘Eliminate all forms of Malnutrition’, ‘Hunger is a
Killer’ and ‘Farming is also a Job: Do you know that?’.
“Others said: ‘Encourage friends and family
plants’, ‘Hunger free can be achieved’, ‘Healthy food for all is a must’, ‘All
year food production’ and ‘No hunger in the future’”.
The 2018 WFD will be celebrated on the
theme: “Our Action are Our Future: A ZeroHunger
World by 2030 is Possible” and will be mark with a flag raising ceremony on
Tuesday October 16, at Nsawam in the Eastern Region.
The Guest of Honour for the celebration would
be former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
Amen Amenrenolds Amen, Founding President of
the Amen Institute, said his outfit participation in the WFD programmes which
is recognised by the UN raises the nations flag globally.
He said the Amen Institute commitment,
recognition and support towards the WFD reminds the UN of Ghana commitment with
them for development as well as the achievement of UN Sustainable Development
Goals.
Ameen Amenrenolds said their association with
WFP gives the youth the opportunity and mandate to take part in activities of
food and agriculture for its development.
He said Amen Amen is an institution that
teaches higher knowledge of good citizenship, respect and wisdom, that is known
all over the world as the shining star.
Mr Abbey Mensah, the Amen Amen Ambassador,
said the UN since 1986 recognises the Amen Institute and named it as an
honorary member of WFD Celebration Committee.
He said this was due to a donation the Ameen
Institute made when financial and public institutions, diplomats and
individuals were invited to the British Council in Accra in 1986 to donate for
the development of farmers and fishermen and the villages and coastal towns.
Mr Mensah said the Amen Institute is the only
institution that accepted the concept and donated and was since recognised and
mandated by the UN as one of the institutions to lead WFP and WFD advocacy and
awareness creation.
He said the Amen Institute, supports the WFD
celebration committee and its activities, the National Farmers Day celebrations
and other activities that are meant to ensure food security and the elimination
of hunger.
Mr Gilbert Xorlanyo Ampeh, Deputy Director
Finance and Administration at MoFA, said over the years, the Amen Institute has
always been the first institution to donate to support and kick start this WFD
programme.
He said MoFA has always remembered the Amen
Institute as the first member to be part of the WFD Planning Committee.
Mr Ampeh said this year’s theme for the WFD
celebration reminds the world that food security and the elimination of hunger
should be its focus.
He said the celebration is a call to
governments to formulate food and agriculture policies that will tackle the
elimination of hunger and also a call to farmers to understand that food is an
essential tool for human survival.
Mr Ampem said the WFP has been developing
various policies to support both the public and private sectors to achieve its
goal of Zero Hunger.
“The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
also supports MoFA with media publicity such as Television panel discussions,
Public education and advertisement which cannot be quantified”.
He said MoFA has launched the Planting for
Food and Jobs Programme Campaign and this has informed the decision of the
National Food Buffer Stock with the support of MoFA to rehabilitates some its
olden silos in the Brong Ahafo, Upper East and West and Northern regions and
currently the Volta region to get them ready for the storage of maize, sorghum
and other foodstuffs.
He thanked the Ameen Institute on behalf of
MoFA, the UN, the WFP and the FAO for their continued support and commitment
towards the WFD celebration.
About 150 countries around the world mark the
WFD celebration with various activities and programmes.
The World Food Day is a day of action
dedicated to tackling global hunger. It promotes worldwide awareness and action
for those who suffer from hunger, and for the need to ensure food security.
GNA