Across Ghana, the food on our plates is quietly shaping the nation's health. Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and some cancers were once seen as illnesses of old age or affluence.
These non-communicable diseases (NCDs) now affect Ghanaians of every age and income, and much of the burden can be traced to what we eat. Ultra-processed foods, sugary drinks and aggressive marketing of unhealthy products have become part of everyday life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NCDs account for approximately 45 per cent of all deaths in Ghana, mirroring a global pattern where NCDs contribute to 74 per cent of total mortality. These statistics highlight the urgent need to implement effective interventions to curb the rapid rise of NCDs as well as its underlying causes. Many families have no clear way of telling which foods are good for them.
Ghana has already taken some important steps. Following years of advocacy by civil societies, the country has recently developed national policies on front-of-pack nutrition labelling, restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods, and fiscal measures that encourage healthier diets. Without regulations to give them legal force, these policies risk remaining good intentions on paper. That concern was at the heart of a 14-month project by the Coalition of Actors for Public Health Advocacy (CAPHA).
The coalition brings together Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO), Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND), Ghana Public Health Association (GPHA),Institute of Leadership and Development (INSLA) and SONGTABA. Its work on healthier food environments builds on advocacy efforts dating back to 2021, including campaigns for taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages. The recent project, supported by International Development Law Organization (IDLO), set out to do three things: strengthen the coalition and the capacity of civil society, create an enabling environment for the regulations needed to enforce the policies, and raise public awareness and demand for NCD prevention. Its goal was clear from the start. The coalition wanted to see the policies adopted, regulated and implemented.
As part of the project’s advocacy efforts, community members including students, nurses, doctors, people with lived experiences of NCDs, traditional, religious leaders, public health and nutrition officers, and families were engaged and sensitised on the importance of healthier food environments and the role of government policies in shaping dietary choices. These engagements helped bring food environment policy discussions closer to the public, highlighting how food prices, marketing strategies and tactics, product information and the availability of different foods can influence what people eat.
The project also strengthened the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs) to engage in food environment policy advocacy. By building the knowledge and advocacy capacity of other CSOs, the project sought to broaden participation in efforts to advance policy implementation and strengthen collective action. Recognising the important role they can play in raising awareness, the youth and media professionals were also engaged through sensitisation and capacity-strengthening activities.
Media engagement formed another important component of the advocacy effort. Activities included a media tour and the dissemination of infographics explaining the importance of the food environment policies and why their implementation is urgent. The infographics provided accessible information to help audiences, particularly on social media to understand the purpose of the policies and their potential contribution to healthier food environments. The media activities, meanwhile, offered opportunities to expand public discussion of food environment issues and the need for concrete action.
The Coalition also convened a high-level stakeholder consultation that brought together policymakers and officials from the Food and Drugs Authority, National Health Insurance Authority, Ghana Health Service, Academia, Ghana Standards Authority and Parliament. The consultation gave the coalition a platform to present its case for implementing the food policies and to hear directly from those responsible for regulating them. The discussions also helped lay the groundwork for subsequent engagement with Members of Parliament.
The project also taught lessons that will shape the coalition's next phase. Real policy change often happens through persistent, direct engagement with decision-makers, not only in meeting rooms. Media editors and trusted local voices such as chiefs and religious leaders are powerful allies. Public education on television and radio must grow so that every Ghanaian understands what these policies mean for their family.
As the project ends, the coalition is calling on the Government to act. It urges the Ministry of Health, Parliament of Ghana and relevant agencies to expedite the review of the policies under their respective mandates and advance the necessary processes towards implementation.
The partners also emphasise the importance of continued collaboration between government institutions, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, the media and communities. Sustained public education, stronger advocacy networks and meaningful stakeholder participation will remain important in building support for healthier food environments.
The Coalition of Actors for Public Health Advocacy (CAPHA) is a coalition of civil society organisations advocating for sustatined national health through evidence-informed advocacy. For more information, contact [
