The University of Ghana is positioning itself at the centre of Africa’s food systems transformation agenda after the launch of the Africa Regional Collaborative for Agriculture, Nutrition and Health (ANH-ARC) in Accra.
The newly launched initiative is expected to strengthen the connection between agriculture, nutrition, and public health across Africa by helping governments and policymakers make better decisions based on scientific evidence and research.
At a time when many African countries continue to battle rising food prices, malnutrition, poor diets, and increasing nutrition-related diseases, the initiative seeks to bridge a longstanding gap between food production and health outcomes.
The platform, which is being hosted by the University of Ghana, forms part of the wider global ANH Academy Science–Policy Platform and connects African institutions to an international network of more than 13,000 researchers, policymakers, and practitioners focused on improving food systems and health outcomes worldwide.
The initiative is jointly led by the University of Ghana, the Policy Studies Institute in Ethiopia and Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
Speaking at the launch, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Felix Asante, described the initiative as a critical step toward building a more coordinated and evidence-driven approach to solving Africa’s food and nutrition challenges.
According to him, although agriculture remains a major part of many African economies, millions of people still struggle to access affordable and nutritious food. He noted that climate change, urbanisation, and unhealthy food systems are worsening nutrition and health problems across the continent.
The ANH-ARC platform aims to change that by ensuring that scientific research does not remain in academic journals alone, but is translated into practical policies and actions that improve people’s diets, health, and livelihoods.
Central to the initiative is Professor Amos Laar, a Professor of Public Health Nutrition at the University of Ghana and the first Director and Principal Investigator of the initiative.
Prof. Laar stressed that fragmented food systems across Africa continue to limit efforts to fight malnutrition and diet-related diseases. He called for stronger collaboration between agriculture, nutrition, and health sectors to support better policymaking and healthier food environments.
The launch attracted participants from academia, governments, civil society organisations, and international institutions from countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Sweden, Rwanda, Senegal, and Botswana.
The initiative also aligns with the University of Ghana’s broader strategy of driving impactful research and influencing policies that address real-life development challenges.
