The Eastern Regional Director of the Department of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs Juliana Abbeyquaye has urged Ghanaians to  patronise locally manufactured foods to help build a stable and better economy.

She said patronising such local food stuffs would help support local farmers financially and promote agricultural development in the country.

“Purchasing fresh local foods from your typical markets instead of those huge supermarkets  that import most of their foods will help place money in the hands of local farmers and build the local economy as well.” She added.

Mrs Abbeyquaye said these when she addressed participants at a cooking competition organised by the Eastern Regional Centre for National Culture (CNC) with support from Onga, last Wednesday.

The cooking competition was for organised groups including the Beads Market Association, Wood Workers Association, Garment Traders Association among many others who were tasked to prepare different Ghanaian dishes.

At the end of the competition, Beads Market Association emerged first, Ghana Association of Visual Arts chalked second and the third position was won by the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association.

The winners received prizes including souvenirs from the Onga company.

She said that by buying and eating local foods, Ghanaian would be helping to reduce the unemployment rate in the country.”

Speaking on child’s development, Mrs. Abbeyquaye stated that to guarantee a bright future for the young generations, there was the need  for parents to focus on the nutrition of their children, by patronising local foods that would give the children the right nutrition to grow well.

She noted that in the era of COVID-19, it was essential for Ghanaians to boost their immune system by eating local foods to ensure their overall wellbeing.

On his part, the Acting Eastern Regional Director of CNC, Mr Peter Marfo also said there was the need for parents to patronise the country’s local foods and introduce same to their children, not only for health benefits but to also preserve and promote the country’s culture by encouraging their children to make good use of Ghana foods.

“Food gives a clue to any person’s culture and we know that our culture is a way of life of a group of people,” he said.

He added that recently, the influx of foreign foods was worrying adding that it did not only compromise our health but made the country lose its foreign exchange.

He said as a Centre established to promote the nation’s culture, they were ready to partner with organisations to promote the culture of the country.

He expressed appreciation to Onga for their support and thanked all the Associations for actively participating in the competition.

From David Kodjo, Koforidua