Kufuor charges African leaders to champion food safety

By JIMOH BABATUNDE

Former Ghanian President, John Kufuor, has called on African leaders to champion policies that will help overcome food safety risks in our systems in order to support a healthier food supply for Africans.
While noting that food safety is a shared responsibility, the co-chair of the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition said almost one in ten people falls ill from eating contaminated food and 420,000 die as a result each year in Africa.
Kufour disclosed this yesterday at a side event on Engaging Public and Private sectors on Aflatoxins Control in Africa at the ongoing 12th CAADP Partnership Platform Meeting organized by African Union in Accra, Ghana.
The former Ghanian leader said children under 5 years of age are particularly at risk as ‘one third of all deaths from food borne diseases are in children under the age of 5 years, despite the fact that they make up only 9% of the global population. 
“No person chooses to feed their family unsafe food, yet millions of people unknowingly challenge their nutrition and health every day by eating food that carries serious risks.”

President Kufuor said unsafe food also has a serious economic impact, affecting trade and livelihoods and hence, peoples’ ability to access a safe and nutritious food.
He disclosed that aflatoxins present one of the most challenging food safety issues in Africa, posing a major health and nutrition risk, particularly to the poor.



“Our duty is to understand the most important decisions that need to be taken so that agriculture and food systems can be safer for all.”
While thanking Partnership for Aflotoxins Control in Africa (PACA) for their leadership role on the aflatoxin challenge in Africa, he said Food safety is a shared responsibility.
“The Global Panel and PACA are keen to work with African leaders to catalyze action. This is why I stand before you today.
“We must work together to champion policies to help overcome food safety risks in our systems to support a healthier food supply for Africans.” 

In her remarks, Mrs. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Commissioner For Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union , said  to achieve the African leaders’ commitment to Ending Hunger in Africa by 2025, that there is need to address the issue of food safety.
“The African Union truly embraces the subject of aflatoxins as it addresses issues that are pertinent to the delivery of the Malabo declaration.”
Represented by Dr. Janet Edeme, acting Director in the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union, Rhoda said the negative effects of aflatoxins on the continent’s economies, public health, nutrition, food security and trade cannot be overemphasized. 
“We have heard about how exposure to aflatoxins can lead to high rates of liver cancer, associated death, stunted growth of our children and impaired immune systems leading to permanently compromised lives. 
“Therefore, our joint reaffirmation to tackle this very serious problem and the need to take meaningful action for impact is encouraging. This commitment to take action is also in line with the call made by AU Leaders during the Malabo Summit, stating that, “It is now time to deliver! It is now time to walk the talk.”

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