From Ampesie to French fries: systematising the characteristics, drivers and impacts of diet change in rapidly urbanising Accra

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is urbanising rapidly. One of the most visible outcomes of this urbanisation process is the change in the diets of urban residents. However, diet change in the context of rapid urbanisation is a complex and multi-dimensional phenomenon that encompasses multiple intersecting historical, environmental, socioeconomic, and political aspects. This study aims to unravel and systematise the characteristics, drivers and impacts of diet changes in Accra, through the interviews of multiple stakeholders and Causal Loop Diagrams. Diet change is characterised by the increased consumption of certain foodstuff such as rice, chicken, fish, vegetable oil, sugar, and ultra-processed food (UPF), and the decreased consumption of traditional foodstuff such as roots, tubers, and some cereals such as millet. These changes are driven by multiple factors, including among others, changes in income, sociocultural practices, energy access, and policy and trade regimes, as well as the proliferation of supermarkets and food vendors. Collectively, these diet changes have a series of environmental, socioeconomic, and health/nutrition-related impacts. Our results highlight the need to understand in a comprehensive manner the complex processes shaping diet change in the context of urbanisation, as a means of identifying effective interventions to promote healthy and sustainable urban diets in SSA. The development of such intervention should embrace a multi-stakeholder perspective, considering that the relevant urban actors have radically different perspectives and interests at this interface of urbanisation and diet change.

Automated summary

Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing rapid urbanization, which is leading to changes in the diets of urban residents. These diet changes are complex and influenced by various factors such as history, environment, socioeconomics, and politics. This study aims to understand and systematize the characteristics, drivers, and impacts of diet changes in Accra. The results highlight the need for comprehensive understanding of the processes shaping diet change in urbanization and the development of effective interventions for promoting healthy and sustainable urban diets.