{
  "id": 8080729,
  "title": "Ghana launches food warning label campaign as NCDs account for nearly 45% of deaths",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/ghana-launches-food-warning-label-campaign-as-ncds-account-for-nearly",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-17T18:34:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-launches-food-warning-label-campaign-as-ncds-account-for-nearly-45-of-deaths/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Ghanaian Ministry of Health, together with SEND Ghana and other partners, has initiated a nationwide media campaign aimed at encouraging citizens to utilize front-of-package warning labels when selecting food items. This initiative comes in response to the escalating prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the nation, with hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases being responsible for nearly 45% of all fatalities in Ghana.\n\nThe campaign's primary objective is to enhance public awareness regarding the health risks associated with excessive intake of foods rich in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. By educating consumers on how to recognize warning labels on food products, the campaign aims to empower individuals to make healthier choices during their grocery purchases. Furthermore, health professionals stress the importance of early prevention efforts, particularly concerning the excessive exposure of children and young people to unhealthy diets. Dr. Hafez Adam Taher, Director of Technical Coordination at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the necessity of extending public education beyond adults to include children, stating, \"We've been concentrating on the adults, and we're saying let's focus on the children. When we introduce children from the early stages to sugary foods, it gets difficult for them to stop as they grow. Let's extend the scope on unhealthy eating to include our children.\"\n\nDr. Taher also appealed to Ghanaians to pay closer attention to their dietary habits and urged food manufacturers to provide clear information on the nutritional content of their products. Harriet Nuema Agyemang, Country Director of SEND Ghana, highlighted the significance of accessible and comprehensible information in enabling consumers to make well-informed decisions. She urged the public to contribute to the Ministry of Health's initiatives aimed at promoting healthier eating habits and mitigating the risk of diet-related illnesses. The campaign is an integral component of a broader strategy to combat the growing burden of NCDs in Ghana through public education, prevention, and the promotion of healthier lifestyles.",
  "summary": "The Ministry of Health, in partnership with SEND Ghana and other stakeholders, has launched a mass media campaign to promote front-of-package warning labels and help Ghanaians make more informed food choices. The campaign comes against the backdrop of a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases, which account for…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}