By Yussif Ibrahim
Kumasi, March 16, GNA – Mr. Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, the Mayor of Kumasi, has announced a new policy aimed at reducing salt consumption in food establishments as part of efforts to address the growing burden of hypertension in the city.
The policy, approved by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), prohibits the open display of salt on dining tables in restaurants, chop bars, and other food outlets across the metropolis.
The measure targets the common practice where salt is placed on tables, allowing customers to add extra salt to meals already prepared with it.
Announcing the initiative, the Mayor said the Assembly was adopting a preventive approach to public health by addressing everyday dietary habits that contribute to hypertension.
“Hypertension is no longer a distant health concern; it is affecting families and productive lives across Kumasi,” he said in a statement issued by Mrs. Henrieta A.K. Aboagye, Public Relations Officer of the Assembly.
The decision follows findings from a 2025 observational study commissioned by the Assembly which assessed 156 food service establishments in the city.
The study revealed that 62 per cent of the establishments openly displayed salt for customers, allowing them to add more to meals already prepared with the ingredient. Chop bars recorded the highest prevalence of the practice.
Researchers also observed that none of the establishments displayed health advisories on salt consumption, highlighting a gap in public awareness about the health risks associated with excessive salt intake.
Health data indicates that hypertension remains a major public health concern in Ghana’s urban centres.
National estimates place hypertension prevalence at up to 34 per cent in urban populations, while studies in the Ashanti Region suggest the rate could be as high as 37.4 per cent, with many cases undiagnosed or poorly controlled.
Public health experts say excessive salt consumption is a key contributing factor.
The World Health Organization recommends a daily intake of less than five grams of salt. However, studies in Ghana show that the average consumption ranges between eight and ten grams per day.
Officials say the food service sector plays an important role in shaping dietary habits, particularly as many urban residents rely heavily on meals prepared outside the home.
Implementation of the policy will begin this year with public education campaigns, engagement with food service operators, and the integration of salt reduction requirements into routine environmental health inspections.
The initiative is supported by the Partnership for Healthy Cities, a global network of more than 70 cities working to prevent noncommunicable diseases and injuries.
Mr. Joseph Ngamije, Deputy Director for Africa at the initiative, commended the city for acting on evidence to improve public health.
“Kumasi’s decision shows how cities can use local data to take practical action that protects public health,” he said, noting that restricting the open display of salt was a proven approach to reducing excessive salt consumption and preventing hypertension.
The Partnership for Healthy Cities is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the global health organisation Vital Strategies.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Audrey Dekalu