Ghana Month: Ghana at risk of losing its heritage when it comes to food - Academic warns

Dr. Mrs Alberta Bondzi-Simpson warned that Ghana is at risk of losing its heritage when it comes to food, speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show as part of Ghana Month Celebration. She said, "I will not say outright that we are losing our heritage. I would probably cautiously say that we are at risk of losing our heritage when it comes to food." She added that if Ghanaians are not careful, especially in urban centers, they may lose a lot of their food.

Dr. Bondzi-Simpson stated that the biggest threat comes from modern lifestyles changing how people eat, with many Ghanaians in cities now relying heavily on food bought outside the home. She stressed that this shift has serious consequences for traditional dishes that are not commercially available, especially within the hospitality industry. Her research showed that most menu decision makers in the economic space consider difficulty in production, and they think that it is more difficult to produce and serve certain Ghanaian dishes. She documented about 200 Ghanaian dishes across 13 ethnic groups, but says only about 12 commonly appear on menus. She noted that even within families, knowledge of traditional cooking is declining over time.

Dr. Bondzi-Simpson explained that the situation is worsened by changing social structures, with fewer opportunities for cooking skills to be passed down. She pointed to convenience as another major factor driving the decline of local dishes. She called for greater innovation in food processing to preserve Ghanaian cuisine.