Food for All Africa, Ghana’s first and largest community food bank, is proudly representing the nation at the GFN Africa Food Bank Conference 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria. The conference, held from November 17–20, convenes food banks from across the continent to tackle urgent issues around food security, innovation, and resilience in combating food waste and hunger. Executive Director Elijah Amoo Addo and Operations Manager Nelson Agbogba are leading Ghana’s delegation.
The dual challenge of food waste and hunger in Africa
Africa faces the paradox of high levels of hunger alongside significant food loss. Sub-Saharan Africa loses an estimated 37% of its annual food production, valued at over $48 billion. In Ghana, more than 3.2 million tonnes of food are wasted yearly while over 2 million people experience food insecurity. Food banks bridge this gap by rescuing surplus food and redistributing it to vulnerable communities, contributing to circular economy solutions that turn waste into value.
Food for All Africa: Driving food recovery nationwide
Food for All Africa has led Ghana’s food recovery efforts since inception. Working with farms, manufacturers, and retailers, the organization rescues surplus food and provides meals to thousands of people each year. Its innovative programs reduce hunger while mitigating the environmental impacts of food waste.
GFN Africa Food Bank Conference: Collaboration and innovation
Hosted by The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) and the Lagos Food Bank Initiative, the conference offers a platform for knowledge exchange and partnership-building. Key focus areas include:
- Addressing urgent food security needs
- Strengthening food bank resilience
- Expanding access to nutritious food
- Reducing food loss and waste across Africa
Advancing Product Sourcing: Turning challenges into opportunity
During a panel on product sourcing, Elijah Amoo Addo emphasized the power of technology and partnerships in strengthening food recovery systems. He highlighted the Okumkom Food App—an AI-powered platform improving food recovery coordination in Ghana—and called for stronger collaboration among food banks, policymakers, and the private sector.
He added:
“Food sourcing is the fuel of our food bank. We are exploring innovative solutions, including technology and AI, to overcome the challenges we face in Ghana. We are also calling for partnerships with stakeholders to create policies that support food banks and help us reach more vulnerable communities. It is inspiring to see the growth of food banking in Ghana, with new initiatives like the RNAQ Foundation food bank, the Ellembelle food bank, and the Essikado Ketan Constituency food bank. I urge all Members of Parliament leading these initiatives to work with us to create a unified front in the fight against hunger
A call for continued collaboration
Operations Manager Nelson Agbogba expressed appreciation to GFN for its ongoing support and noted that insights and connections from the conference will strengthen Food for All Africa’s work.
Food for All Africa’s participation underscores its commitment to building a hunger-free Africa and advancing sustainable solutions across the region.
About Food for All Africa
Food for All Africa is a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting hunger and reducing food waste in Ghana. As the nation’s first and largest community food bank, it rescues surplus food and redistributes it to vulnerable communities. Learn more at foodforallafrica.com.
Source: ameyawdebrah.com/
