KNUST FOOD FESTIVAL 2023
The KNUST Food Festival is an annual event organised by the Department of Food Science and Technology and the College of Science in collaboration with other key players. With each year's celebration getting better, the 2023 edition was the best yet. The annual event aims at celebrating the indigenous and rich nature of our Ghanaian dishes and to create awareness on the need to patronize our delicacies.
This year’s event was on 17th February 2023 and was graced by the presence of the Vice Chancellor of the University (Prof Rita Akosua Dickson), the provost of the College of Science (Prof Leonard Amekudzie), the former provost of the College of Science (Prof Ibok Oduro), the Head of Department for Food Science and Technology (Prof Isaac Williams Ofosu), the former Head of Department and pioneer of the initiative (Prof Faustina Dufie Wireko Manu, the Dean of International Students Office (IPO)(Professor Daniel Duah), the head of Department for Statistics and Actuarial Science (Prof. Atinuke Olusola Adebanji), representative of the Ashanti Regional Office of the FDA (Abena Agyapomaa Asiahmah), representatives from the Crop Research Institute of Ghana (CRI-CSIR)(Faustina Okyere) and a host of other prominent people in the University and Research Institutes in Ghana. Three Senior High Schools, namely, KNUST SHS, Ejisuman SHS and Ejisu SHTS were also present.
The event started with an opening prayer by Rev Obeng Denteh to invite the Almighty to grace the various activities of the day. The food Bazaar commenced right after that with members of the Local Organizing committee directing the tour of various stands mounted. The Head of Department for Food Science and Technology (Prof. Isaac Ofosu), gave a brief welcome address while highlighting some achievements and history of the event during the food bazar. Also present from the Department of Food Science and Technology were Prof. Jacob Kwaku Agbenorhevi and Dr. Emmanuel Amankwah.
There were lots to see, eat and learn. From a variety of dishes, local drinks, meat, products made from under-utilized legumes, and an exhibition on how near infrared spectroscopy can be used in food authentication.
There were also exhibitions from the international student community in KNUST.
Prof Amekudzie then gave a formal welcome to all and sundry present, acknowledging all dignitaries. A short cultural display was observed, followed by a series of choreographed moves and an educational drama by some students of the department of food science. The drama was in line with the theme of this year's festival “Promoting our culture and food for well-being and sustainable development”.
Prof Rita Dickson in awe, commended the team, and reiterated the need for this kind of education about food safety and patronizing our local indigenous foods.
A brief talk on Food innovations and product development advances in the department was highlighted by Prof Wireko Manu, which set the stage for the tour all the outstanding foods and technologies on display. The tour was led by the Vice Chancellor and Dr. Abena Boakye (Chairperson of this year’s organizing committee).
Following the riots and instability from the Rus-Ukraine war (Making wheat expensive), this year's event sought to hunt for innovative ideas on replacing wheat with alternate flours for bread making, all in the wake to make Ghana food secure. The competition saw a lot of outside the box ideas.
Prizes were awarded to deserving individuals and the program was wrapped up with a closing prayer and informal networking session.
This year's being the best yet, watch out for Food festival 2024!
