ACCRA: The Amen Amen Institute, in partnership with the United Nations, hosted a float procession in Accra to mark World Food Day, focusing on promoting local food production and achieving food security. The Saturday event drew participants from various sectors including UN staff, officials from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), and traditional leaders, starting from Mantse Agbonaa in James Town and culminating at the MoFA forecourt. According to Ghana News Agency, the procession aimed to enhance awareness among farmers and the general public about the significance of local food production to ensure food security. The event precedes the official World Food Day commemoration set for Wednesday, October 16, 2024. Mr. Daniel Reynolds, speaking on behalf of Mr. Amen Amenreynolds Amen, the Founding President of the Amen Amen Institute, highlighted the critical role of food in human security and the Institute's efforts in using the annual World Food Day celebrations to emphasize this point. World Food D ay, observed annually on October 16, seeks to raise global awareness and action against hunger and to underscore the importance of healthy diets for everyone. This year marks the 44th edition of the event, instituted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 1979, under the theme "Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future." The World Food Programme (WFP) reports distressing data showing that approximately 828 million people worldwide go to bed hungry each night, and over 2.8 billion cannot afford a healthy diet. The number of people facing acute food insecurity has surged from 135 million in 2019 to 345 million, with 50 million at the brink of famine across 45 countries. These figures underscore the urgent need for enhanced food security measures as echoed by Mr. Reynolds, who advocated for peace as a precursor to agricultural investment and food security. In support of these goals, the Amen Amen Institute donated GHS10,000 to MoFA and provided food items to the Dzor wulu Special School, emphasizing active engagement in agriculture as a means to combat global hunger. Mr. Gilbert Xorlanyo Ampeh, Deputy Director at MoFA, also highlighted ongoing initiatives to bolster food security through constructing warehouses and irrigation dams, while expressing concerns over illegal mining activities damaging farmlands and polluting water bodies in Ghana.