By Albert Allotey, GNA
Accra, Oct. 14, GNA — The Coalition of Actors for Public Health Advocacy (CAPHA) has called on the Government to urgently implement Food Environment Policies to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Ghana.
Citing World Health Organization (WHO) reports, CAPHA said NCDs account for 45 per cent of deaths in Ghana, with unhealthy diets being a major contributing factor.
The Coalition noted that the country’s food environment is increasingly shaping public health outcomes, as diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and certain cancers, once associated primarily with old age or affluence, now affect Ghanaians across all age groups and income levels.
“These NCDs now affect Ghanaians of every age and income, and much of the burden can be traced to what we eat,” the Coalition stated.
“These statistics highlights the urgent need to implement effective intervention to curb the rapid rise of NCDs as well as the underlying causes,” it added.
The call was contained in CAPHA’s 14-month project report, released on September 30, 2026, and copied to the Ghana News Agency.
The Coalition expressed concern that without the necessary regulations to give legal force to the policies, they could remain merely well-intentioned proposals on paper.
According to the report, the project brought together several organisations, including the Green Africa Youth Organisation, Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Ghana Public Health Association, Institute of Leadership and Development, and SONGTABA.
The partners collaborated to promote healthier food environments while building on advocacy efforts that began in 2021, including campaigns supporting the taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages.
Supported by the International Development Law Organization, the project sought to strengthen the coalition and build the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs), create an enabling environment for regulations needed to enforce food policies, and increase public awareness and demand for NCD prevention.
Its ultimate goal was to facilitate the adoption, regulation and implementation of the policies.
As part of its advocacy efforts, the coalition engaged community members, including students, nurses, doctors, people living with NCDs, traditional and religious leaders, public health officials, nutrition professionals and families.
The report said these engagements helped bring discussions on food environment policies closer to the public by highlighting how food prices, marketing practices, product information and food availability influence dietary choices.
The project also strengthened the capacity of CSOs to advocate for food environment policies by enhancing their knowledge and advocacy skills.
This broadened participation in policy efforts and reinforced the important role of civil society in public education and awareness creation.
Youth groups and media professionals were also engaged through sensitisation and capacity-building activities.
The report further indicated that CAPHA convened a high-level stakeholder consultation involving policymakers and representatives from the Food and Drugs Authority, National Health Insurance Authority, Ghana Health Service, academia, Ghana Standards Authority and Parliament.
According to the Coalition, the consultation provided an opportunity to present its case for implementing the policies and engage directly with institutions responsible for regulating them.
The discussions also laid the foundation for subsequent engagements with Members of Parliament.
CAPHA is therefore urging the Government to act swiftly, calling on the Ministry of Health, Parliament and relevant state agencies to expedite the review of the policies and complete the processes required for their implementation.
The Coalition also emphasised the need for continued collaboration among government institutions, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, the media and communities to promote healthier food environments.
It further called for sustained public education, stronger advocacy networks and meaningful stakeholder participation in efforts to prevent NCDs and improve public health outcomes.
CAPHA is a coalition of civil society organisations dedicated to promoting sustainable national health through evidence-based advocacy.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Albert Allotey