Africa Investigates: Ghana: Food for thought Africa is a documentary film that takes a deep dive into the food industry of Ghana, Africa. The film looks at how the food industry in Ghana operates, the challenges faced by small-scale farmers, and how the government policies affect the food and agriculture sector. The film follows the story of investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who poses as a food investor interested in the Ghanaian food industry to uncover the truth behind the industry. He delves into the country's fishing, cocoa and food industries and the various problems faced by the small-scale farmers in these sectors.
In the film, Anas shows how the corruption in the industry affects the livelihoods of small-scale farmers. They are forced to sell their produce at a lower price to middlemen who buy their products at lower prices and resell to food processing companies at higher prices. Small-scale farmers are rarely able to profit from their labour, and their income is dependent on the middlemen.
The documentary also exposes the exploitation of child labour in the cocoa industry in Ghana. The cocoa industry is a major source of income for the country, but it is also the industry that involves a lot of child labour. Many children are forced to work on cocoa farms and have to endure harsh working conditions. The practice is illegal, but it persists, as cocoa farmers are not paid enough for their products and cannot afford to employ adult labour.
Anas also investigates the fishing industry in Ghana, which is characterized by the use of illegal and destructive fishing practices like dynamite and other explosives. These practices not only lead to overfishing but also endanger marine life and livelihoods of artisanal fishermen. The film shows how the government is unable to regulate the fishing industry, which leads to the exploitation of small-scale fishermen.
Additionally, the film also highlights the issue of food adulteration in Ghana. Many food processing companies in the country add filler ingredients to their products to reduce the cost of production. These ingredients are harmful to the health of consumers, but the government is unable to enforce regulations on the production of foodstuff.
Africa Investigates: Ghana: Food for thought Africa provides an insight into the difficulties small-scale farmers face, the exploitation of child labour, and the health risks associated with the food industry in Ghana. The documentary also highlights the government's inefficiency in regulating the industry while investigating corrupt practices in the food industry.
In conclusion, Africa Investigates: Ghana: Food for thought Africa is a must-watch documentary for people interested in understanding the food industry in Africa. It exposes the challenges and the harsh realities that people in the industry face in Ghana. The film highlights the need for the government to step up to protect the lives and livelihoods of small-scale farmers and artisans in the food industry.
Africa Investigates: Ghana: Food for thought Africa is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 24 minutes.
