The RNAQ Foundation has officially launched its flagship food bank initiative, marking a significant step toward combating food insecurity and empowering vulnerable communities across Ghana.
The launch event, held on Friday, August 1, 2025, at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, brought together a host of dignitaries, including Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture John Dumelo, CEO of the National Youth Authority (NYA) Osman Abdulai Ayariga, celebrated Ghanaian actor Adjetey Anang, traditional leaders, philanthropists, and other notable personalities.
The RNAQ Food Bank is a compassionate initiative designed to ensure that no Ghanaian goes without a nutritious meal each day. Rooted in the personal mission of its founder, Richard Nii Amarh Quaye, the project aims to partner with local food vendors to establish accessible food distribution hubs across the country.
In his keynote address, Richard Nii Amarh Quaye shared a heartfelt reflection on the inspiration behind the project.
“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,” he said.
“Today, we launch 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 announced 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,” Mr. Quaye stated.
“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.”
The CEO of the National Youth Authority, Osman Abdulai Ayariga, praised the initiative for its timely intervention, especially as youth and children remain the most vulnerable to food insecurity.
“This food bank offers relief and hope. It is not just charity, it is impactful, and it will touch generations,” Mr. Ayariga said. “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.”
He added that the NYA and the Ministry of Youth Development fully support the initiative and stated that youth empowerment and food security must go hand in hand.
“Without meaningful youth engagement, food sovereignty will remain a mirage,” he said, calling for cross-sector collaboration to scale food storage systems, urban farming, and climate-smart agricultural innovation.
Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, also lauded the foundation’s efforts, tying the initiative to the broader “Feed Ghana” agenda under 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,” he noted.
“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 further encouraged the foundation to expand its farms and stated that food price stability is key to Ghana’s agricultural transformation.
“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.
As part of the launch activities, guests and journalists were taken on a tour of one of the food bank’s operational hubs in Korle-Gonno, where they observed the logistical processes in place to serve meals to needy families.
The RNAQ Foundation says its food bank project is grounded in sustainability, dignity, and community participation. With plans to expand to the Ashanti Region in the coming weeks and eventually nationwide, the Foundation is determined to bridge systemic gaps in food access and wealth inequality.
“This is the Ghanaian dream,” Mr. Quaye affirmed. “Where we take care of our own. Where the solution doesn’t come from outside, but from within. And as long as I have the breath in me, we will not stop.”
Source: myjoyonline