By: tntnewspapergh.com
The government has been urged to urgently take urgent and bold decisions to initiate tax on unhealthy foods so as to subside the healthier food as part of strategy to fight Non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
A Nutritional biochemist & lecturer of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST),Dr. Charles Apprey,who made the call said ‘what stops us a country to tax these unhealthy foods, build silos in our markets to reduce the intake or consumption of unhealthy foods ?
Dr. Charles Apprey
Dr.Appprey, who’s an advocate for food-related fiscal polices said if the country could reduce the wastage of our produce, the country will save people dying as a result of NCDs, etc
Dr. Charles Apprey made a presentation on the topic ” Preventing non-communicate diseases (NCDs) through legal and regulatory measures” at a day’s training workshop for media professionals in the Ashanti region on Thursday,19th February,2026
The training was organised by Ghana Public Health Association in collaboration with the Coalition of Actors for Public Health Action (CAPHA).
Participants in a group photograph
The training program was designed for media professionals in Kumasi on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Globally, over 70% of all deaths are due to NCDs. The situation is not different in Ghana, as about 45% of all deaths are due to NCDs like cancers, hypertension, and diabetes. It was, therefore, the need to get the support of the media professionals to join the crusade in reducing this burden in Ghana, hence the training program.
The expert argued that a number of countries in Africa have introduced sugar taxes to reduce too much intake of unhealthy foods.
He said Non-communicable diseases NCDs are chronic diseases not passed from person to person.largely driven by lifestyle and environmental factors such as diet, physical cancer,cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and Diabetes millitus
He said the WHO estimates that a total of 41 million deaths (71%) worldwide are due to NCDs, and over 80% of these deaths are attributed to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and Diabetes mellitus.
He disclosed that the GDH survey in 2014 estimated the prevalence of hypertension to be 13% for men and women aged 15-49 years.However, in older persons, the prevalence is over 50%.Besides, WHO also estimates that in 2016, over 94,000 deaths in Ghana were from NCDs.
Dr.Apprey said hypertension, which is thought to be the most common form on NCDs in Ghana, affects over 34% of males and 51% of females.”The GDH survey in 2014 estimated the prevalence of hypertension to be 13% for men and women aged 15-48 years.
He said the policy focused on 1. Reducing exposure risks that contribute to NCD,2. Strengthen the early detection and management to reduce morbidity and mortality,3. Strengthen the health systems for NCD prevention and control,4. Strengthen multisectoral collaboration for NCD prevention and control.As well as 5. Ensure sustainable funding and other resources for NCD prevention and control.These NCDs are largely a result of diet habits.•
There is a changing trend of the Ghanaian plate.
The switch from traditional nutrient-rich foods, like kontomire and ntrowa abomu, abekwan and the like, to less nutritious and junky foods, like fries, pizza, sodas, etc.•
And the legal regime for nutrition in Ghana to prevent NCDs is from strengthening concerning labelling, promotion, sale, and advertisement of food and drinks, including SSBs, SFA, and TF• Food policies are laws, regulations, and fiscal measures that shape the production, distribution, labelling, marketing, pricing, and availability of foods• They influence what consumers choose, what food companies produce and sell as well as what foods are affordable.
He explained that Front-of-Pack Labelling refers to simple, visible nutrition information on the front of packaged foods to inform consumers at the point of purchase• They include warning labels (“High in Sugar/Salt/Fat”), traffic lights (color-coded nutrition labelling system) and nutri-score systems (colour coded nutritional information
Aim of FOPL:
To provide convenient, relevant, and readily understood nutrition information or guidance on food packsScope of FOPLPackaged , manufactured, or processed foods that are required to carry a nutrient declaration
BENEFITS:
1 Improve consumer understanding quickly.
- Boosts consumer awareness,3. Highlight products with unhealthy nutrient levels4. Reduces consumption of unhealthy products5. Encourage manufacturers to reformulate products
According to him,Front-of-package labelling has been implemented in many countriesto encourage healthier food choices ;South Africa, USA, Mexico, and Chile seen reductions in purchase of high-sugar/salt products as a result of FOPL,Product reformulation with positive results (e.g., reformulate foodproducts to reduce their salt content in the UK.
The KNUST lecturer said the types of foods and beverages marketed to children are out of line with dietary recommendations: Salty snacks , sweets , soft drinks ,fast foodsPolicies that limit advertising and promotion of unhealthyfoods, especially to vulnerable groups such as children•
Examples:1. Ban junk food ads during children’s TV programming2. Restrict use of cartoons/celebrities for unhealthy foods3. Regulate outdoor ads near schoolsThe aim is to create a healthy -enabling food environments where the “healthier choice becomes the easier choice He said the scope is consumption taxes on foods that do not contribute to a healthy diet and SSBs,and subsidies on food that contribute to a healthy diet.
The training program was designed for media professionals in Kumasi on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Globally, over 70% of all deaths are due to NCDs. The situation is not different in Ghana, as about 45% of all deaths are due to NCDs like cancers, hypertension, and diabetes.
It was, therefore, the need to get the support of the media professionals to join the crusade in reducing this burden in Ghana, hence the training programThe expert argued that a number of countries in Africa have introduced sugar taxes to reduce too much intake of unhealthy foods.
He said Non-communicable diseases NCDs are chronic diseases not passed from person to person. largely driven by lifestyle and environmental factors such as diet, physical cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes mellitus.
He said the WHO estimates that a total of 41 million deaths (71%) worldwide are due to NCDs, and over 80% of these deaths are attributed to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes mellitus.He disclosed that the GDH survey in 2014 estimated the prevalence of hypertension to be 13% for men and women aged 15-49 years.
However, in older persons, the prevalence is over 50%.Besides, WHO also estimates that in 2016, over 94,000 deaths in Ghana were from NCDs.Dr Apprey said hypertension, which is thought to be the most common form of NCDs in Ghana, affects over 34% of males and 51% of females.
“The GDH survey in 2014 estimated the prevalence of hypertension to be 13% for men and women aged 15-48 years.The policy focused on 1. Reducing exposure risks that contribute to NCD2. Strengthen the early detection and management to reduce morbidity and mortality3. Strengthen the health systems for NCD prevention and control.4. Strengthen multisectoral collaboration for NCD prevention and control
- Ensure sustainable funding and other resources for NCD prevention and control.These NCDs are largely a result of diet habits.• There is a changing trend of the Ghanaian plate.• The switch from traditional nutrient-rich foods, like kontomire and ntrowa abomu, abekwan and the like, to less nutritious and junky foods, like fries, pizza, sodas, etc.•
And the legal regime for nutrition in Ghana to prevent NCDs from strengthening concerning labelling, promotion, sale, and advertisement of food and drinks, including SSBs, SFA, and TF• Food policies are laws, regulations, and fiscal measures that shapethe production, distribution, labelling, marketing, pricing, andavailability of foods• They influence what consumers choose and what food companies produce and sell, as well as what foods are affordable.
He explained that ‘front-of-pack labelling’ refers to simple, visible nutrition information. on the front of packaged foods to inform consumers at the point of purchase• They include warning labels (“High in Sugar/Salt/Fat”), traffic lights (colour-coded nutrition labelling system) and Nutri-Score systems (colour-coded nutritional information)
Aim of FOPL
To provide convenient, relevant, and readily understood nutrition information or guidance on food packsScope of FOPLPackaged, manufactured, or processed foods that are required to carry a nutrient declarationBENEFITS1. Improve consumer understanding quickly2. Boosts consumer awareness3. Highlight products with unhealthy nutrient levels.4. Reduces consumption of unhealthy products5. Encourage manufacturers to reformulate products.
According to him, front-of-package labelling has been implemented in many countries.to encourage healthier food choices; South Africa, the USA, Mexico, and Chile have seen reductions in the purchase of high-sugar/salt products as a result of FOPL and product reformulation with positive results (e.g., reformulating food products to reduce their salt content in the UK).
The KNUST lecturer said the types of foods and beverages marketed to children are out of line with dietary recommendations: Salty snacks, sweets, soft drinks, fast foodsPolicies that limit advertising and promotion of unhealthyfoods, especially to vulnerable groups such as children•
Examples:1. Ban junk food ads during children’s TV programming.2. Restrict use of cartoons/celebrities for unhealthy foods. 3. Regulate outdoor ads near schools.The aim is to create healthy-enabling food environments where the “healthier choice becomes the easier choice.” He said the scope is consumption taxes on foods that do not contribute to a healthy diet and SSBs and subsidies on food that contribute to a healthy diet.
