Media professionals in Tamale have been trained to advocate for healthier food environments as part of efforts to reduce the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Ghana.

The workshop, organised by the Coalition of Actors for Public Health Advocacy (CAPHA) in partnership with Songtaba, brought together journalists and media practitioners to strengthen their understanding of food environment policies, responsible health reporting and the media’s role in shaping public health.

Growing NCD burden

Facilitators said diet-related NCDs including hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer are now a major public health challenge. They noted that NCDs account for about 71 per cent of global deaths and roughly 43 per cent of all deaths in Ghana, with hypertension affecting nearly 30 per cent of the population.

Experts urged the public to shift towards natural and healthy foods, including fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, while reducing consumption of highly processed products. They said healthier eating habits are essential to preventing many chronic diseases and improving overall well-being.

Policy framework and media role

Participants were walked through Ghana’s food environment policy framework, including front-of-pack warning labelling, restrictions on food marketing and food-related fiscal policies. Facilitators said these measures are designed to help consumers make informed choices, reduce exposure to unhealthy food advertising and encourage better diets.

Journalists were also reminded of the importance of media ethics in health reporting. They were urged to uphold truthfulness, fairness, accuracy and accountability when covering health issues, to ensure the public receives credible information that supports evidence-based policies.

Coalition behind the push

The training introduced participants to the coalition driving the advocacy campaign, which includes the Ghana NCD Alliance (GhNCDA), the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND), the Ghana Public Health Association (GPHA), the Institute of Leadership and Development (INSLA), the Ghana Youth Organization (GAYO) and Songtaba.

The coalition is working to promote legal and regulatory measures that encourage healthier food environments and reduce the incidence of diet-related diseases.

CAPHA and its partners say the workshop is part of ongoing efforts to build media capacity to produce accurate, impactful and ethical health stories that will help create healthier food environments and lower the NCD burden across Ghana.

By Mariam Alhassan