The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has partnered with the Social Enterprise Development Foundation (SEND-GHANA) and the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND) to advocate for the adoption of Front-of-package Warning Labelling (FOPWL) policies in Ghana.

A symposium was therefore held to raise awareness about the importance of clear food labelling to empower consumers to make healthier choices and encourage food manufacturers to reformulate their products.

Despite strong scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of FOPWL and Nutrition Profiling Models (NPM) in protecting public health, Ghana has yet to implement these policies.

The symposium provided a platform for engaging academia, researchers, and policymakers in discussions about national nutrition standards, aiming to shape policies that improve health outcomes for Ghanaians.

"Have a passion to drive meaningful change," urged Professor Leonard Amekudzi, Provost of the College of Science at KNUST. "Harness the power of collective knowledge and experience to co-create solutions that will promote a healthier, sustainable food system."

Mr Joseph Danquah, General Secretary of GAND, emphasized the organization’s commitment to science-driven nutrition policies.

“We aim to advocate for mandatory FOPWL regulations in Ghana, suitable for our market, and engage policymakers and industry leaders,” he stated. He called for continued collaboration, adding, “This symposium is not just about dialogue; it’s about driving action that will impact lives forever.”

Mrs Harriet Nuamah Agyemang, Country Director for SEND-GHANA, stressed the urgent need for FOPWL policy implementation.

“We need the FOPWL policy, and we don’t have that yet, so we are advocating for it as quickly as possible,” she said.

“Having this policy in place will guide government interventions.” She explained that the policy would provide a foundation for government engagement with industry players and importers, particularly given Ghana’s reliance on food imports.

“Just as when we export raw materials to international markets and are required to meet certain standards, we should also set standards for the products coming into the country,” Mrs Agyemang asserted. “This must be a priority because, ultimately, it’s our health at stake. As the Ministry has said, the health of the people is the wealth of the country.”

She also pointed out the economic implications: “If the government needs to allocate more funds to healthcare, then they would have to find a way to collect more revenue from the people of Ghana. It becomes cyclical. It is important we add the warning labelling so that even the illiterate and semi-literate can quickly understand.”

Professor Reginald Adjetey Annan, at the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, KNUST, addressed the obesogenic environment in Ghana.

“The Ghanaian environment is obesogenic, and such an environment encourages unhealthy food consumption, promoting poor health,” he explained. “FOPWL will provide an opportunity to improve the food environment, making it much healthier, and will improve food behaviour and choices.”