The 11th edition of the annual Vegetarian Festival (VegFest) is set to come off at the Christ the King International School, Accra, on Farmers’ Day, December 1.
Expected to attract almost 1,000 patrons, the one-day event will see a display of 100 percent juices, smoothies, vegan local and international cuisine, most of which are already consumed on a daily basis by Ghanaians without knowing they are fully vegetarian dishes. Vegan foods do not contain animal or dairy products.
The family day festival with over 50 exhibitors will showcase a spa haven where patrons can pamper themselves, and a wellness village where holistic wellness consultants will educate people on alternative health options and lifestyle choices devoid of medication, using food as the building block.
Other exciting offerings include free healing sessions, promos, food sampling, natural health products, special offers, kids’ corner, cooking demonstrations, health and fitness as well as music and entertainment.
Coming off under the theme ‘Healthy Lifestyles Beyond a Meatless Diet’, the event is organised by the Vegetarian Association of Ghana (VegGhana), a non-profit making organisation with one of its aims and objectives being to educate the public on a plant-based diet for healthy living.
The vegan summit will have seminars throughout the day. Speakers include Dr. Kofi Asare of PAMA Health, who will speak on African Healing Science and Nutrition; Serap Danyildiz speaks on Reversing and Preventing Lifestyle Diseases; and Dr. Samuel Sasu of Healthworks will discuss Healthy Lifestyles: The Ayurveda Way.
The rest are Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, Director/Dean of Academic Affairs of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), who will look at the cultural perspectives of our diet and nutrition; and finally, Dr. Emmanuel Kwame Asenso of Health Talk will explore Good Eating habits and Your Health in An Evergreen Environment.
Dr. Kofi Asare, who is also President of the association, noted that many Ghanaians think vegetarians eat only grass.
“We eat some of the best dishes you can think of. The popular local dishes including Red Red, Apaparansa, Waakye, Abom, Apem and Nkontomire and others are staple foods of Ghanaians, and these are the dishes we enjoy all the time. It just does not contain animal protein,” he said.
He urged Ghanaians to patronise the festival to learn more about vegetarianism and the best healthy lifestyles to combat degenerative health conditions that are claimed to be ‘incurable’. “All such ailments can be reversed if you adopt a plant-based diet and key into healthy lifestyles,” he chimed.
If you do well to pass through the one-day event you will understand better the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle and its enormous health benefits. “You will realise that we do not eat grass at all, but actually some of the best dishes one can think off,” he added.
He explained that the reason for choosing to hold the event on Farmers’ Day is to show Ghanaians that vegetarianism starts right from the farm. “What we eat is not conjured from anywhere. We choose Farmers’ Day because our lifestyle starts from the farm, which signifies the abundance of the earth,” he added.
The association has been holding monthly vegan potluck meetings every second Sunday of the month at Christ the King International School. These meetings focus on the promotion of healthy living, and members bring along homemade local vegan and international cuisines that are shared by all.
