First Lady Inaugurated as Nutrition Champion

The Co-founders and eminent leaders of the high-level African Leaders for Nutrition initiative has named First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo as the Nutrition Champion for Ghana and Africa.

Mrs. Akufo-Addo, who is also the founder of the Rebecca Foundation joins His Excellency Hery Rajaonarimampianina, President of Madagascar, His Majesty King Letsie III of the Kingdom of Lesotho and African Union Nutrition Champion, Dr. Howarth Bouis, Acting CEO of HarvestPlus as the 2018 Nutrition Champions.

The inauguration was done by the His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, Former President of Ghana, Founder of the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation and Co-Chair of the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition, as well as the Co-founder of the African Leaders for Nutrition.

In her brief remarks, the First Lady expressed gratitude to the African Leaders for Nutrition initiative, spearheaded by the African Development Bank, “for deeming me fit to be a Champion for Nutrition.”

“I acknowledge the instrumental role played by His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor in the establishment of the African Leaders for Nutrition and for personally nominating me as an ALN Champion.

His steadfast energy and commitment to development in Ghana and Africa should inspire us all to create a better world for ourselves and future generations” She said.

She also applauded the contribution of Dr. Akinwuni Adesina, President, the African Development Bank, and Chairperson of African Leaders for Nutrition Initiative.

On the mandate as the Nutrition Champion for Africa, Mrs. Akufo-Addo indicated that working with the Kufour Foundation, the African Leaders for Nutrition Initiative and other stakeholders, “she will employ creative and ingenious strategies to achieve the ultimate goal of entrenching proper nutrition in Africa.”

Describing it as unacceptable, she said, the issue of nutrition strikes at the very future of the African continent and “we are losing about a quarter of the continent’s future potential leaders to malnutrition.”

“I consider it a great opportunity, therefore, to be called upon by the African Leaders for Nutrition Initiative, to serve my dear country Ghana and Africa as a whole, in the capacity of Champion of Nutrition. It is a charge I do not take lightly.” She assured.

Whilst stating that “eliminating malnutrition is achievable in our lifetime” she called for sustained high-level political leadership and commitment to ending malnutrition in Africa.

The African Leaders for Nutrition Initiative leverages on the voices of its high-level Champions to amplify and elevate nutrition on the continent.

The initiative’s efforts are guided by the ALN Champions, while strategic advice to the ALN secretariat is provided by a group of renowned experts and advisors from diverse sectors in nutrition and socio-economic development.