Government has fully endorsed RNAQ Foundation’s flagship Food Bank initiative aimed at combating food insecurity and empowering vulnerable communities across Ghana.

According to the foundation, the RNAQ Food Bank initiative will partner with local food vendors to establish accessible food distribution hubs across the country. During the launch event on Friday, August 1, at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, the founder, Richard Nii Amarh Quaye, shared a heartfelt reflection on the inspiration behind the project in his keynote address.

“I stand before you as a man who remembers what it feels like to be hungry, not just for food, but for hope, for dignity, and for change. Today, we launched the RNAQ Food Bank. But this is not just about food. This is about justice. It’s about dignity. It’s about telling every Ghanaian… that you also matter.”

He further mentioned that the initiative would begin with five food bank locations in Greater Accra, Korle-Gonno, Kasoa, Ashaiman, Odorkor, and Madina, with plans to expand nationwide.

“These food banks will open every single day, and through them, thousands of people will be fed daily. This is not charity. This is nation-building. This is how we create the Ghana we’ve all been dreaming of, one plate at a time,” he added.

This vision has earned Richard Nii Amarh Quaye applause and massive support from the government. Chief Executive officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Abdulai Ayariga, commended the initiative, describing it as a much-needed response to the growing food challenges facing young people and children.

“This food bank offers relief and hope. It is not just charity; it is impactful, and it will touch generations. In Ghana alone, 3.6 million students, about 11.7% of our population, struggle with access to sufficient food, with risk levels exceeding 30% in many northern districts,” Mr. Ayariga said.

Mr Abdulai Ayariga noted that the National Youth Authority and the Ministry of Youth Development are fully in support of the initiative, stressing that food security and youth empowerment are inseparable.

“Without meaningful youth engagement, food sovereignty will remain a mirage,” he said. He also called for cross-sector collaboration to boost food storage capacity and urban farming and adopt environmentally friendly farming technologies.

Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Setor Dumelo, also praised the foundation’s efforts, linking the initiative to the wider “Feed Ghana” agenda championed by the National Democratic Congress administration.

“We must celebrate one man who is using his wealth well, and that is RNAQ. Most of the people preparing the food are from the communities, so this creates employment. It feeds people and contributes to our Feed Ghana project. Our aim is to feed ourselves, feed the industries, and then export the rest. This food bank project is a valuable addition to that value chain.”

Mr. Dumelo also urged the foundation to support its farming efforts, emphasizing that consistent food prices play a crucial role in Ghana’s agricultural progress. “This is a very good initiative, and we support it 100%. I’ll make sure that every morning, I’ll take my Ghana Card to the food bank so I can also enjoy a hot, fresh meal,” he quipped.

In attendance at the event were celebrated Ghanaian actor Adjetey Anang, traditional leaders, philanthropists, and other notable personalities. Guests and journalists at the launch toured the food bank’s operational hubs in Korle-Gonno, where they observed the meal distribution process to needy families in action.

The RNAQ Foundation noted that the project rests on sustainability, dignity, and community engagement. The Foundation is determined to bridge systemic gaps in food access and wealth inequality with expansion in the Ashanti Region in the coming weeks and eventually nationwide.

Mr. Quaye affirmed that, “This is the Ghanaian dream...where we take care of our own. Where the solution doesn’t come from outside, but from within. And as long as I have breath in me, we will not stop.”

The official food distribution began on Friday, 1st August, with four operational centres strategically positioned in high-need communities across Accra. Locations such as Korle-Gonno, Kasoa, Ashaiman, Odorkor, and Madina were considered to begin the food distribution based on population density and levels of deprivation.

Unlike traditional food relief efforts that distribute uncooked or dry food items, the RNAQ Food Banks will provide hot, ready-to-eat meals sourced directly from local food vendors. According to spokesperson Patricia Hlorbu, the initiative not only guarantees nutritional value but also stimulates local economies by supporting small-scale catering businesses.

“The Food Bank Project marks a significant milestone for the Foundation,” she noted, adding that, “this comes in the wake of Richard Nii Armah Quaye’s transition from his role as Board Chairman of Bills MicroCredit and Chairman and CEO of Quick Angels. Under his leadership, Bills evolved from a startup in 2009 into a key player in Ghana’s microfinance sector, disbursing over GHS 7.5 billion in loans to underserved communities.”

Ghana has recorded a decline in its poverty rate from 26.4 percent in 2023 to 25.9 percent in 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to the Fund, the Ghanaian population living in extreme poverty is measured at the international poverty line of $2.15 daily.

In the improved growth outturn recorded last year, particularly in services and agriculture, as well as continued efforts to expand the country’s social protection programmes, led to the drop in poverty.

This included the four highly targeted programmes covered by the programme conditionality: the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the Ghana School Feeding Program (GSFP), the Capitation Grant, and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The Fund stated in its 4th Review Under the Economic Credit Facility Arrangement with Ghana that the government is redoubling efforts to expand social spending and shorten delays in releasing budgeted funds to beneficiaries.

According to the International Monetary Fund, going forward, “staying the course of macroeconomic policy adjustment and reforms is essential to fully and durably restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability, while fostering a sustainable increase in economic growth and poverty reduction.”