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Abolish import tariffs onmedical supplies, PPE – Coalition of global think tanks
A coalition of 31 global think tanks has called for immediate abolishment of import tariffs that are applied by many countries on medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE).
According to them, these tariffs are driving up prices and reducing availability.
They also called on global leaders to avoid export bans, which are exacerbating global shortages of essential medical goods by disrupting global manufacturing supply chains.
These were in a statement issued by one of the think tanks, IMANI Africa, on behalf of the coalition in Accra ahead of World Health Assembly, to be attended virtually by member states of the World Health Organisation on May 17, 2020, in Geneva.
According to the think tanks, customs red tape should be reviewed to keep goods crossing borders as quickly as possible and commit to open trade to help tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statement noted that innovation was crucial to finding a long-term solution to a newly identified disease like COVID-19, including the invention of new therapeutics and vaccines and their mass manufacture and rapid distribution.
“The think tanks call on governments to support needed innovation by facilitating the cross-border flow of epidemiological and clinical data related to COVID-19. They should also avoid pre-emptively removing intellectual property rights from any new vaccines or treatments that emerge.
The world needs more companies to join the quest for new treatments and vaccines, not policies that send a strong signal to stay away. Intellectual property rights are vital to support coordinated mass manufacturing scale-up and global distribution,” it said.
Franklin Cudjoe, founding president of IMANI Africa, was quoted to have said that, “we are concerned that many countries are looking to the failed ideas of the past to address the crisis.
Barriers are being erected that are deepening shortages of medical supplies, undermining innovation and hampering efforts to beat the disease.
His view as stated by the statement was that the situation was compounded in relatively poor and poor countries, where patients are being failed by the lack of investment in domestic health care infrastructure.
“Now is not the time for countries to look inwards. The crisis will only be resolved, and economies will only recover, if countries are allowed to trade and collaborate freely with each other,” Mr Cudjoe concluded.
BY TIMES REPORTER
The General Overseer of Jesus Prayer Ministry (Superintendent Minister) at Ejisu Asuasi, Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region and Accra Pig farm, Rt Rev. Dr (Mrs) Grace Frimpong-Boateng, has asked Christians to pray for the country and its leadership during this period of Easter.
According to her, the current happenings in Ghana were abnormal and was important for Christians to make supplications to their maker for an intervention.
“As Christians, we must stand in the gap. I implore all Christians including ministers of God to unite in prayer for Ghana to be saved from any calamity, including plane crashes and motor accidents that claim the lives of well-known ministers of God and others,” he stated.
Delivering her Easter message, Rt Rev. Dr (Mrs) Grace Frimpong-Boateng mentioned that Easter was a time to remember Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.
“Jesus gave his life to save everyone and deliver humanity from the forces of evil,” she stated.
And the benefit of Christ’s death and resurrection, she said was to rescue humanity from the clutches of the devil.
“I want you to have faith that God will bless you and accomplish His purposes for your life as we celebrate Easter. Believe that this year will be good and you will receive whatever you require in accordance with God’s plan for your life,” she indicated.
This, she emphasised, was the reason why Christians must not sit idle, but rather, channel their energies into intense prayers to reverse the negative trends that have overwhelmed the country in recent times, citing examples such as illegal mining (galamsey) pit collapses, road crashes and air crashes.
“Throughout this period of Easter and beyond, let’s stand together and be kind to one another and pray that God would bless and heal our land,” she underlined.
Rt Rev. Dr (Mrs) Frimpong-Boateng also urged the President, John Dramani Mahama, members of the Council of State, the Ministers of State, the Kings and Queens, and other traditional leaders to get up and offer prayers for God to intervene in the untimely deaths.
“I once dreamed that Ghana had turned into a stone and that everything was completely dark. I told several pastors but no one heeded to it. This has shown up as illicit mining, which is commonly known as ‘galamsey.’ Whenever I mention something that God has revealed to me, let’s pray sincerely for God’s intervention,” she disclosed.
She also indicated that these problems were not beyond the power of God who is able to transform lives and halt all the negative trends.
“With prayers, God can heal all the diseases we are talking about in our country. I have prayed for people and they have been cured of conditions including glaucoma, cancer, and brain tumours, among others. The same God is capable to answering all the supplications we make to him.”
“Let’s have faith in the power of God and trust Him in all we do. You won’t regret it if we turn from our sins and wicked ways now and allow Jesus to take control of our lives,” she noted.
She added that, “Ghana belongs to us so let’s commit to serving our nation. You will definitely return to Ghana, no matter where you go. We think things are quite difficult but with God on our side, we can overcome every challenge we face as a country.”
By Spectator Reporter
A coalition of health and civil society organisations has called for the urgent introduction of a Front-of-Pack Warning Labelling (FOPWL) policy to curb the rising burden of kidney disease and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
The FOPWL policy places clear symbols on ultra-processed products that exceed defined threshold for salt, sugar, unhealthy fats, non-sugar sweeteners, and other nutrients of public health concern.
The labels provide immediate and visible information that allows consumers to identify unhealthy products quickly and make better choices.
At a press briefing in Accra last Thursday, the coalition comprising SEND Ghana, the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development described the situation as a “quiet but dangerous public health crisis” already affecting millions of Ghanaians.
Project Lead at SEND Ghana, Levlyn Konadu Asiedu, addressing the media, cited recent figures presented in Parliament indicating that more than four million people in Ghana are living with chronic kidney disease, with about 400 new end-stage cases recorded annually.
“These are not just numbers; they reflect a growing health crisis driven by preventable risk factors within our environment,” she stated.
According to her, chronic kidney disease often progresses silently, with many individuals unaware of their condition until it reaches advanced stages where treatment becomes expensive and difficult to access.
She noted that dialysis and kidney transplantation remain beyond the reach of many Ghanaians, placing both families and the healthcare system under significant strain.
Ms Asiedu said the coalition identified the widespread consumption of ultra-processed foods as a major contributing factor.
Products such as sugary drinks, energy drinks, instant noodles, biscuits, and highly processed snacks, they emphasised, are increasingly becoming part of daily diets due to their affordability and convenience.
However, these foods are typically high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, increasing the risk of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and stroke, all of which place added pressure on the kidneys.
Citing the World Health Organisation, she noted that non-communicable diseases account for about 45 per cent of deaths in Ghana, underscoring the urgency of preventive interventions.
A key challenge, she said was the lack of clear and accessible nutrition information on many food products, leaving consumers unaware of the health implications of their choices.
She explained that unlike back-of-pack labels, which are often technical and difficult to read, front-of-pack warnings are simple, visible, and easy to understand, and allowing consumers to make informed decisions at a glance.
The coalition also highlighted the economic toll of the rising disease burden, noting that government continues to spend heavily on treatment. Commending ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Health to develop the policy, the group urged the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to champion its swift passage and implementation.
They further called on the media, policymakers, and the public to support the initiative, stressing that empowering consumers with the right information is key to reversing current health trends.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
