Abandonment of local cuisines cause of undernourishment

Mr Vincent Asimah, a lecturer at Ho Polytechnic, has said the virtual abandonment of local cuisines in homes could be the cause of the lingering under-nourishment of many Ghanaians, especially children.

Mr Asimah, who spoke to the GNA on the sidelines of a ceremony in Ho on Wednesday to mark World Home Economics Day, said people went for foreign food because they thought to it was modern.

The day was marked under the auspices of the Ghana Home Economics Association (GHEA) on the theme “Home Economics Education, Skills for Families and Consumers”.

Mr Asimah, a management professional with a background in Home Economics, conceded that time was another factor leading to food type switches in homes.

He said many women now worked outside home, in the formal or informal sectors, and had little time to prepare the local foods.

Mr Asimah said Home Economics was the livewire of life, providing the nutrients that gave society healthy sustenance, clothing and job avenues.

He urged young men to take Home Economics and should never be daunted by taunts.

Madam Eunice Antiaye, GHEA President, said the Association would continue to positively impact the food, beverage and fashion scene in the country.

She said it was the Association’s protestations that led to the stoppage of the sale of iced water from shared cups and later also from polythene sachets blown with the mouth to open.

Mr Alexander Mawusi Boadi, the Ho Municipal Director of Education, said Home Economics which combined many other sciences, was a crucial human services area.

A cake produced by Mawuli School, in the school’s colours, was cut to herald the day which is celebrated worldwide on March 20 every year.