News
94,000 lives lost to NCDs in 2016 …experts demand taxes on unhealthy foods
IN 2016, more than 94,000 Ghanaians died from Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), according to the World Health Organisation. That figure, experts warned, was not just a statistic but a silent epidemic eroding the nation’s future.
At a training workshop for media professionals in Kumasi last Thursday, Dr Charles Apprey, a nutritional biochemist and lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), issued a stark call: Ghana must urgently tax unhealthy foods and subsidise healthier options if it hopes to stem the tide of preventable deaths.
“What stops us as a country from taxing these unhealthy foods, build silos in our markets, and reduce their consumption?” Dr Apprey challenged, arguing that fiscal measures could save thousands of lives.
Globally, NCDs account for 71 per cent of all deaths, and Ghana mirrors this trend with about 45 per cent of national deaths linked to hypertension, diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory diseases. Hypertension alone affects over 34 per cent of men and 51 per cent of women, with prevalence among older persons exceeding 50 per cent.
Dr Apprey warned that the Ghanaian plate was changing dangerously—from kontomire, abomu (local stew) and abεkwan (palm soup) to fries, sodas, and pizza. “These are lifestyle-driven illnesses,” he said, “and they demand bold policy intervention.”
The KNUST lecturer outlined a five-point agenda to reduce exposure risks such as poor diet; strengthen early detection and management; build resilient health systems; foster multisectoral collaboration; and secure sustainable funding.
He highlighted front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) as a proven tool, citing South Africa, Mexico, Chile, and the UK, where warning labels and traffic-light systems have reduced purchases of high-sugar and high-salt products.
Dr Apprey also called for bans on junk food advertisement during children’s TV programming, restrictions on celebrity endorsements, and limits on outdoor advertising near schools. “The aim is to create healthy-enabling food environments where the healthier choice becomes the easier choice,” he stressed.
The workshop, organised by the Ghana Public Health Association in collaboration with the Coalition of Actors for Public Health Action (CAPHA), positioned journalists as frontline allies in the fight against NCDs. With their reach and influence, media professionals were urged to amplify the urgency of food policy reforms and help shift public attitudes toward healthier diets.
Mr James Mckeown Amoah, Project Coordinator for Ghana Public Health Association (GPHA), called for all hands to be on deck towards the reduction of NCDs in Ghana. He, therefore, urged the media to devote airtime and spaces to create more awareness for Ghanaians to embrace the consumption of healthier food devoid of unhealthy foods.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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