Traditional vegetables in Ghana

Daniel K. Abbiw
Department of Botany, University of Ghana, Lebon, Ghana

Abstract

This paper classifies the vegetables used in Ghana into those of national importance and those of local or ethnic importance only and documents which of the vegetables of local importance are marketed.

Vegetables are an important source of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients for rural dwellers in Ghana. They serve to thicken soups and increase the bulk of stews. Vegetables collected from the wild are an important food source in times of famine. A small number are marketed and thus contribute to household income. Vegetables of national importance are listed in Table 1. However, an estimated 90% of the vegetables used in Ghana are generally restricted to local or ethnic groups. A list of some of these vegetables is found in Table 2. The list represents less than half the vegetables used - either cultivated, tended or collected from the wild. Of the total, only the young leaves of Xanthosoma mafaffa, Crateva adansonii and species of Amaranthus, Corchorus and Sesamum are marketed, representing about 5% of the total. The young leaves of X. mafaffa are the most extensively marketed and consumed vegetable throughout the country (Abbiw 1990).

Table 1. Vegetables of national importance in Ghana.

Species	Plant family	Common name
Abelmoschus esculentus	Malvaceae	Okro or okra
Allium ascalonicum	Amarylidaceae	Shallot
Capsicum anuum	Solanaceae	Pepper
Colocynthis lanatus	Cucurbitaceae	Watermelon
Cucumeropsis edulis	Cucurbitaceae	-
Cucurbita pepo	Cucurbitaceae	Pumpkin or vegetable marrow
Lagenaria siceraria	Cucurbitaceae	Bottle gourd
Luffa cylindrica	Cucurbitaceae	Vegetable sponge
Lycopersicon esculentum	Solanaceae	Tomato
Momordica charantia	Cucurbitaceae	African cucumber
Sechium edule	Cucurbitaceae	Chayote
Solanum species	Solanaceae	Eggplant
Telfairia occidentalis	Cucurbitaceae	Fluted pumpkin

Table 2. Vegetables that are generally restricted to local or ethnic groups in Ghana.

Species	Common name	Remarks
Aeolanthes pubescens	-	Also medicinal
Amaranthus hybridus subsp. incurvatus	-	Leaves also medicinal
A. viridis	Wild amaranth	Leaves also medicinal
Balanites aegyptiaca	Desert date	Northern tribes mainly
Calamus deeratus	Rattan palm	Young buds
Ceiba pentandra	Silk cotton tree	Northern tribes mainly
Celosia argentea	-	Raphides present
Ceratotheca sesamoides	-	Northern tribes mainly
Cleome gynandra	-	Also medicinal
Cocos nucifera	Coconut palm	Palm cabbage
Colocasia esculenta	Eddoes	Akans. Raphides
Corchorus aestuans	-	Ewe
C. olitorius	Jew's marrow	Ewe
C. tridens	-	Ewe
Emilia coccinea	-	Also for salad
E. sonchifolia	-	Also for salad
Feretia apodanthera	-	Northern tribes mainly
Hyptis pectinata	-	Also medicinal
Ipomoea alba	Moon flower	General
I. aquatica	-	General
I. batatas	Sweet potato	General
I. eriocarpa	-	General
Jaquemontia tamnifolia	-	General
Justicia insularis	-	Akans mainly
Laccosperma secundiflorum	Rattan palm	Palm cabbage
Laportea aestuans	-	Leaves irritating
Launaea taraxacifolia	Wild lettuce	Spinach and salad leaves
Manihot esculenta	Cassava	General
Pentodon pentandrus	-	Also medicinal
Phoenix reclinata	Wild date palm	Palm cabbage
Piliostigma thonningii	-	Northern tribes mainly
Piper guineense	West African black pepper	Forest tribes mainly
P. umbellatum	-	Forest tribes mainly
Portulaca oleracea	Purslane	Also for ritual purification
Raphia hookeri	Wine palm	Palm cabbage
Senecio biafrae	-	Also for ritual purification
Sesamum alatum	-	Northern tribes mainly
S. indicum	Sesame	Northern tribes mainly
S. radiatum	-	Northern tribes mainly
Solenostemon monostachys	-	Northern tribes mainly
Talinum triangulare	Water leaf	Fantis mainly. Raphides
Urera cameroonensis	-	Leaves irritating
Vernonia amygdalina	Bitter leaf	Bitter, also medicinal
V. colorata	-	Bitter, also medicinal
Vitex doniana	Black plum	Northern tribes mainly
Xanthosoma mafaffa	Cocoyam	Akans mainly. Raphides

Reference

Abbiw, D.K. 1990. Useful Plants of Ghana. Intermediate Technology Publications and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London.