Dietitians have stated that people should eat more locally grown foods in order to maintain their health as consuming processed meals frequently is linked to a host of diseases.

According to them, the population is becoming more likely to suffer from diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity, as a result of the rise in the intake of junk food and highly processed foreign foods.

Food that is extremely low in nutrients is called junk food. They have a lot of additives, processed sugar, salt, and bad fat.

Additionally, junk food that is high in sugar, bad fats, and processed components can have a negative effect on skin health, leading to conditions like acne and inflammation. Regrettably, both urban and rural-urban regions now consume large amounts of these foods.

In Ghana, meals high in fibre that facilitate digestion, including yam, kenkey, and kontomire, should be preferred over processed foods, which have less fibre and do not allow individuals to reap the benefits mentioned above.

Additionally, whole foods like millet, sorghum, yam, cassava, green vegetables, beans, and an assortment of fresh fruits have long been staples of Ghanaian diets, particularly those in the north of the country.

Local food is fresher, tastes better, and is packed with a variety of vital elements that support optimal nutrition and health, like vitamins, minerals, fibre, and healthy fats.

Sadly, some people have developed the bad habit of continuously consuming highly processed meals at the expense of their health, which leads to them eventually becoming afflicted with a variety of ailments that they could have prevented.

This is in contrast to consuming local foods, which would help the agriculture industry.

It should be emphasised that while eating local foods is healthy, it is still important to prepare food in a hygienic manner to avoid contamination and foodborne illnesses. If you do wish to eat junk food, do so in moderation as there are several short- and long-term health concerns associated with frequent junk food consumption.

In order to help prevent some chronic diseases and to support heart health, digestive wellness, and lifespan, The Spectator is advising Ghanaians to eat more locally grown foods that are high in fibre, vitamins, and protein.

By doing that, we can help families avoid illness and repeated hospital visits for bill payment, freeing up a large sum of money for purposes other than healthcare.

To be less stressful make sure you get adequate sleep and drink lots of water in order to help eliminate sugar sweetened beverages.

Parents need to be mindful of the snacks they pack for their children to school to keep their children from developing a junk food addiction. These snacks need to be nutritious.

A public education campaign about the advantages of eating more locally grown foods – such as Wasawasa, Tubaani, Zambarima Zugu, Kapala, Plantain, Cocoyam, Kontomire (Cocoyam leaves), and local spices like Prekese and Dawadawa – must be spearheaded by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. These foods have long been staples of the Ghanaian diet.

The push to promote native grains – like millet, fonio, and sorghum – which are more resilient to climate change and more nutrient-dense than imported wheat and rice – must also be spearheaded by stakeholders.

 Illegal small-scale mining, known as ‘galamsey,’ is wreaking havoc on our communities and environ­ment. It is imperative that we act now to put an end to this practice before future generations suffer as a result.

Galamsey has significantly contributed to habitat destruction, devastation of farmlands, and pol­lution of the air, water, and soil.

Horrifying sights of stillborn newborns with malformations in galamsey locations are all attribut­ed to galamsey in Ghana.

Many health problems, includ­ing cancer, mercury poisoning, and respiratory disorders, are brought on by the pollution of our water bodies, which makes it difficult for people to access clean drinking water.

Mosquitoes are thriving in the runoff water from abandoned mine holes because of the deteriorating environment. As a result, Ghana’s natural beauty has declined.

Galamsey is primarily to blame for Ghana’s low food production, fluctuations in food prices, and high cost of living, particularly in areas where the practice is common as it displaces farmers.

Unfortunately, it appears that the more we discuss this subject, the more ‘galamseyers’ engage in their illicit operations with impuni­ty, seriously harming the environ­ment in the process. This is what makes the situation so unsettling.

It is clear that people who participate in the practice have no regard for the tremendous harm their acts cause to the environment and local residents’ health, among other things. Their only concern is maximising their profits at the expense of others.

In fact, tourists looking for sustainable destinations may be discouraged by these detrimental effects on the environment which is endangering both the current and the future generations.

What kind of legacy are we leaving for future generations, and where is Ghana headed?

The Spectator is pleading with the authorities to act right now because these illicit operations are endangering the health and safety of the communities around them and nobody is safe.

There are more people going into galamsey, and those who do so say there are no jobs available. Even women can occasionally be drawn into galamsey, despite the fact that it is typically associated with men.

According to available data, the threat of galamsey is linked to child fatalities, cognitive impairments that impair children’s ability to learn, and congenital malforma­tions. We are therefore pushing for more research on the detrimental effects of galamsey on women’s and children’s health.

We hope the government will create more job opportunities for the youth.

We also implore the govern­ment to collaborate with religious bodies, Civil Society Organisations, traditional authoritis, communities among others to take urgent steps to fight the menace of galamsey, especially by upholding the legisla­tion that forbids it in order to cre­ate a healthy environment for all.