Chef Wisdom Abiro and the Ghana Food Movement have won the 2026 Champions of Change Award, earning international recognition for efforts to promote Ghana’s indigenous foods while creating opportunities for young people and building a more sustainable food system.
The award, sponsored by illycaffè and presented by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, was announced on August 19, 2026. It recognises individuals and organisations using food and hospitality to drive social, economic and environmental change.
The recognition puts the Ghana Food Movement’s work with indigenous ingredients, young food entrepreneurs, schools and communities on an international platform at a time when the organisation is seeking to reshape how Ghanaian food is produced, consumed and valued.
The youth-led organisation works around three main areas: community building, food education and the promotion of local foods.
Its programmes seek to address challenges including Ghana’s increasing dependence on imported foods, changing diets and the declining value attached to some indigenous ingredients.
Beyond promoting Ghanaian cuisine, the Ghana Food Movement has used workshops, mentorship, masterclasses and business development support to equip chefs, entrepreneurs and other young people with practical skills.
The organisation says its work has contributed to employment opportunities for more than 250 young people in Ghana’s food industry.
One of its latest initiatives, the Ghana Plate Project, is taking indigenous foods into schools.
The school nutrition programme promotes meals and snacks made with foods including fonio, Bambara beans, sorghum, baobab and moringa.
The programme is currently being implemented in four pilot schools and reaches about 400 students. The organisation plans to expand its reach to approximately 800 students by the end of 2026.
The Ghana Food Movement has also begun research into climate-resilient indigenous food systems, examining how traditional knowledge, local crops and community expertise could contribute to building a more sustainable food system.
Managing Director Abdallah Smith said the Champions of Change recognition extends beyond the organisation itself to the people contributing to efforts to transform Ghana’s food system, including farmers, chefs, educators, young food leaders and communities.
The award also comes with financial support from The World’s 50 Best Restaurants to help the Ghana Food Movement expand its work.
The organisation plans to use the support to deepen initiatives including South-South chef collaborations, cross-border connections, the promotion of indigenous knowledge and efforts to increase the use of locally sourced foods in school meals.
For the Ghana Food Movement, the recognition also provides an international platform for Ghanaian ingredients that have traditionally been consumed locally but are increasingly being examined for their nutritional, economic and environmental value.
The award comes ahead of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ main 2026 awards ceremony, scheduled for November 4 in Lima, Peru.
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Moses Apiah | Bolgatanga
