Accra: Ghana is strengthening its food policy framework to address the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through sustained stakeholder engagement aimed at improving the national food environment.
According to Ghana News Agency, a two-day capacity-building workshop on food policy development has been organised by Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST Ghana) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, with a focus on the implementation of the Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) and mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labelling (FOPWL).
Speaking at the opening session in Accra, Dr. Belinda Afriyie Nimako, Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ministry of Health, stated that FOPWL would empower consumers, protect vulnerable populations, and align Ghana's regulatory systems with global best practices. She noted that unhealthy diets and increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods were driving the growing burden of NCDs, posing a major threat to national development.
Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) requires not only strengthening health systems but also addressing the determinants of health, particularly the food environment that shapes daily choices and long-term wellbeing, Dr. Nimako said. She explained that integrating the Nutrient Profile Model and Front-of-Pack Warning Labelling into Ghana's food policy framework would help reduce the increasing incidence of lifestyle-related diseases.
Dr. Nimako observed that implementation of food policies globally often encountered resistance from sections of the food and beverage industry due to economic and regulatory concerns. She added that many low- and middle-income countries faced challenges such as limited dietary data, inadequate laboratory infrastructure, and weak regulatory systems and enforcement mechanisms in implementing FOPWL. These challenges risk delaying policy adoption and reducing the overall public health impact of front-of-pack warning labelling initiatives, she said.
Mr. Labram Musah, Executive Director of Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST Ghana), indicated that Ghana was undergoing a significant nutrition transition characterised by increased consumption of ultra-processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages. He said such products, which are high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, were major contributors to the rising burden of NCDs, resulting in premature deaths, increased healthcare costs, and reduced productivity.
Mandatory front-of-pack warning labelling, grounded in a robust Nutrient Profile Model, has emerged globally as a best-practice intervention to reduce unhealthy food consumption, Mr. Musah said. He noted that countries that had adopted the policy had recorded reductions in the purchase of unhealthy foods and improved consumer understanding of nutrition information.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from the Food and Drugs Authority, the World Health Organization, the Ghana Health Service, the National Development Planning Commission, and the University of Ghana, among others. Mr. Musah said the workshop aimed to strengthen policymakers' technical capacity on food systems and support the development and implementation of effective food policies.
He highlighted ongoing public education campaigns being undertaken by SEND Ghana, the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and VAST Ghana to promote the adoption of front-of-pack warning labelling. He said the adoption of robust food policies would support Ghana's efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and advancing Universal Health Coverage.
Mr. Musah added that improved food policies would also complement Government initiatives such as the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and the Free Primary Healthcare programme, both aimed at strengthening preventive healthcare. Participants are expected to develop strategies to safeguard public health policies from commercial influence, strengthen technical expertise, and promote healthier food environments.