Vice-President Opoku-Agyemang Urges Global Investment in Nutrition as New Fortification Technology Debuts in Accra

Ghana's Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called for urgent multi-sectoral action and sustained investment to tackle the global scourge of malnutrition. Speaking at the opening of the 7th Global Conference of the Micronutrient Forum in Accra, the Vice-President underscored that malnutrition remains a formidable barrier to human development. The high-level event, which brought together over 2,200 participants from more than 100 countries, serves as a critical platform for fostering international cooperation and scaling up domestic financing for essential nutrition services in Ghana and across the continent.

During the conference, the Vice-President emphasized that addressing micronutrient deficiencies requires integrated solutions spanning the health, education, and agricultural sectors. She reaffirmed the government's commitment to enhancing financial support for nutrition programs, acknowledging that collaboration between local initiatives and international partners is vital for achieving long-term food security. The Vice-President noted that malnutrition poses significant challenges to collective human development, urging stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric toward tangible, funded interventions that reach the most vulnerable populations.

Parallel to these policy discussions, a significant technological advancement in food security was unveiled with the launch of VIT A+. Developed by Hexagon Nutrition in collaboration with Particles for Humanity, VIT A+ is a stable Vitamin A formulation specifically designed to transform food fortification across Africa. The product utilizes innovative encapsulation technology to protect Vitamin A during storage and high-heat cooking—processes that typically degrade the nutrient. This ensures that a higher concentration of the essential vitamin actually reaches consumers, addressing a major loophole in current fortification efforts.

The commercial rollout of VIT A+ follows successful process validation in India, where enough of the formulation was produced to fortify 600 million food servings. Crucially, the new technology can be integrated into existing manufacturing lines without the need for additional equipment, making it a cost-effective solution for large-scale food producers. As Vitamin A deficiency continues to be a major public health concern in Africa, the combination of high-level political will and practical industrial innovation provides a renewed pathway toward eliminating hidden hunger and improving health outcomes for millions.