EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND ITS RELATED LOCKDOWN ON FOOD SECURITY AND JOB LOSSES: A CASE OF KUMASI, GHANA

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and its related partial lockdown have become a multiplier of vulnerability, compounding threats to food security and job losses whiles opening up weaknesses to food systems. The study’s objective was to examine the impact of COVID-19 disease and its related lockdown on food and nutrition security and job losses. It was carried out in Asokwa Municipal. The site forms part of the cities in Ghana to experience the partial lockdown, hence its selection. Both primary and secondary data collection formed part of the study. Fifty respondents were selected as sample size by means of the purposive sampling technique. The study employed a qualitative approach with a descriptive and narrative posture to the presentation, discussion and analysis. An open-ended questionnaire and a checklist were used for data collection through semi-structured interviews. It was discovered from the results that food and nutrition insecurity, job losses and income reductions were still very common, affecting the participants livelihood. Disproportionally affected were households whose income comes from farming, transporting, informal labour as well as marketers. It was concluded that food and nutrition insecurity and job losses were not outside the impact of COVID-19 and its associated partial lockdown. Food and nutrition security is a global concern in present circumstances. The food supply chain has been hit hardest by COVID-19, causing food insecurity of the most vulnerable segment of the society. Also, most of the migrant, informal and seasonal farm workers were losing their jobs which affected their demand for food. Therefore, the government should step up the measures to control the pandemic without disturbing the food supply chain. The development and the use of online marketing strategies where people can make order of various products should be promoted.