Ghana faces rising obesity rates, nearly one-third of adults affected
via GhanaWeb2 min read
The Ministry of Health has reported that nearly one-third of Ghanaian adults are now overweight or obese, according to the 2023 Ghana STEPS Report. Awinibuno A.N. Ignatius, Director and Chief Programme Officer for Allied Health at the Ministry of Health, disclosed this during the GreenStay Initiative in Accra on July 10, 2026. Ghana is experiencing a dual burden of malnutrition, with undernutrition alongside a rise in obesity-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers. Poor dietary habits contribute to the issue, as fewer than 5% of adults consume the recommended five daily servings of fruits and vegetables. The Ministry is collaborating with the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Education to implement measures, including the 2022 Non-Communicable Diseases Policy, which promotes healthier diets and increased physical activity. They are also working with the Ministry of Education to introduce nutrition education and wellness programs in schools. The Ministry urged the private sector, including hotels, restaurants, food manufacturers, and retailers, to reduce salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats in products, offer healthier menu options, and invest in workplace wellness initiatives. Reducing obesity rates is expected to improve productivity, lower healthcare costs, and support Ghana's development agenda.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
Must ReadProfessor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee, has called on the Supreme Court to reject lawsuits seeking an interpretation of presidential term limits. These suits argue that a president could be eligible for a third term under certain conditions. Professor Prempeh contends that the lawsuits do not present a genuine constitutional dispute because no action has challenged the established interpretation of Article 662 of the 1992 Constitution. He asserts that the Supreme Court's role is to interpret the Constitution only when an actual dispute exists, not to address hypothetical legal questions. The writ, filed by Ghanaian news editor and lawyer Kenneth Kwabena Agyei Kuranchie, seeks a definitive interpretation of the country's presidential term-limit provisions, specifically Article 662. It asks the court to determine if the two-term limit applies only to consecutive terms and if a substantial break between elected terms resets eligibility. The plaintiff seeks declarations that the two-term limit takes effect only after two consecutive four-year terms, that a substantial break of one four-year electoral cycle resets eligibility, and that the prohibition in Article 662 is not engaged until a person has served two consecutive elected terms.
The Ghana Education Service GES has condemned a violent attack on the Zohe Evangelical Presbyterian Schools in the Yendi Municipality on Thursday, July 9, 2026. The GES described the act as barbaric and unacceptable, assuring the public of its commitment to safeguarding students and staff. The incident, according to a statement signed by Daniel Fenyi, Head of Public Relations, on July 10, 2026, stemmed from a disagreement between community members and school authorities over the erection of a commercial shed on school premises. Armed men reportedly stormed the schools, fired shots, and assaulted the headmaster, Mohammed Shani Gazali, who was treated and discharged. The attack caused panic among students and staff, disrupted academic activities, and led to vandalism of school property. The schools were temporarily closed for safety reasons and are expected to reopen on Monday, July 13, 2026, subject to security clearance. The GES emphasized that education facilities must remain safe spaces, free from violence and intimidation.
General Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa, a key figure in Ghana's 1966 coup d'茅tat, sought a parliamentary seat in 1979 to shield himself and his comrades from potential political retribution. In a 1977 letter to then Head of State Lieutenant General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, Afrifa expressed fears of vengeance from the Convention People's Party CPP once civilian rule was restored. He believed that serving in Parliament would offer protection against trials for soldiers involved in coups. Afrifa won the Mampong North parliamentary seat on the Popular Front Party PFP ticket in 1979, securing a place in Ghana's Third Republic. However, his political journey was cut short when he was executed by firing squad on June 26, 1979, by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council AFRC led by Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, just eight days after his election victory. He was among eight senior military officers executed on allegations of corruption and abuse of office. Afrifa never had the opportunity to be sworn into office, and Ebenezer Augustus Kwasi Akuoko succeeded him in Parliament.