Features
From fufu to fast food: Ghana is eating faster and getting sicker
At 6:30 a.m. in Accra, a young office worker scrolls through her phone, ordering fried rice and chicken to arrive before traffic thickens. Across town, a trotro driver grabs a sugary drink and pastry at a roadside stop.
In a nearby school, children line up for fried snacks at break time. None of these moments feels extraordinary.
Yet together they capture a quiet revolution in Ghana’s food system — what public health experts call the nutrition transition: the shift from traditional, minimally processed diets to meals dominated by convenience foods, refined carbohydrates, added sugar, and ultra-processed products. This shift is reflected in Ghana’s own health data.
According to the WHO Ghana STEPwise Survey (2023), approximately 20.9 per cent of adults are overweight and 13.4 per cent are obese, with obesity prevalence in urban areas nearly twice that of rural populations (WHO, 2023).
The same survey estimates that about 19–20 per cent of adults aged 18–69 have raised blood pressure, meaning roughly one in five Ghanaian adults lives with hypertension (WHO, 2023).
Furthermore, the Ghana Health Service Annual Health Sector Performance Reports consistently rank hypertension among the top causes of adult outpatient department (OPD) attendance nationwide, with diabetes also listed among the leading chronic conditions managed at district and regional facilities (GHS, 2022; GHS, 2023).
These trends are visible in workplaces, classrooms, and clinics where front-line health workers now manage far more cases of diet-related chronic diseases than they did a decade ago.
These patterns do not emerge by accident, rather, they are driven by deeper structural changes in how Ghanaians live and eat. The most visible driver is urbanisation and time poverty.
Traditional meals such as banku with okro stew, fufu with light soup, apapransa, yam with kontomire often require time, planning, and space. Urban life strips those away.
Long commutes, irregular work hours, and crowded living conditions make “cook from scratch” a luxury for many. In that setting, convenience becomes a survival strategy, not indulgence.
At the same time, economic pressure reinforces this dependence on convenience.
When food prices rise, households prioritise what is filling and affordable. Energy-dense foods rich in oil, refined flour, and sugar deliver many calories at a low price, even when they deliver fewer vitamins, minerals, and fibre.
This is why Ghana can face a “double burden”: overweight and obesity alongside micronutrient deficiencies, sometimes within the same household. (WHO CDN) Moreover, these structural forces are especially powerful in shaping children’s habits. The next, is the children’s food environment -the most decisive battleground. Children learn taste, habit, and “normal” from what surrounds them.
When the school perimeter is saturated with sugary drinks, pastries, and fried snacks, and when advertising links these items to fun and success, we are programming future disease.
Ghana’s nutrition transition becomes self-reinforcing: the earlier unhealthy habits begin, the harder they are to reverse. And then there is the digital accelerator: delivery platforms and algorithmic convenience.
Apps do not merely respond to demand; they shape it -highlighting what sells quickly and consistently. If “popular” means sugary drinks and fried meals, those become the default. The transition from mortar-and-pestle to mobile apps is not just cultural. It is commercial. As a result of these interconnected drivers, the consequences are becoming increasingly visible.
The downstream effects are no longer theoretical
Ghana’s NCD burden is rising, and risk factors are showing up earlier in life. The 2023 STEPS report indicates that raised blood pressure (hypertension) is common among adults, with prevalence estimates around 19.6 per cent in the 18–69 age group. (WHO File Repository)
Meanwhile, data from Ghana’s population surveys show worrying patterns in weight trends. Analyses of the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey report substantial levels of overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age (commonly reported figures include about 28 per cent overweight and 22 per cent obesity in women).
These are not just statistics; they translate into strokes, kidney disease, diabetic complications, pregnancy risks, and lost productivity. The economic implications are brutal. Unlike many infectious diseases, chronic diseases require lifelong management.
That means repeated clinic visits, medicines, lab tests, dietary adjustments, and time off work. Families pay out of pocket; health systems stretch; national productivity suffers. Prevention is not merely healthier -it is cheaper.
Therefore, confronting these challenges requires more than individual willpower: it requires coordinated policy. Ghana doesn’t need to abandon tradition. We need to modernise protection.
The solution is not to romanticise the past or shame people for buying what they can afford. Ghana needs a modern public health response that matches a modern food environment — practical, enforceable, and pro-family.
Steps Ghana can take now
First, protection must begin where habits are formed: in schools. The Ghana Education Service (GES), district assemblies, and PTAs should implement clear, enforceable standards for school canteens and vendors by limiting sugar-sweetened beverages, requiring healthier snack options, and ensuring access to clean drinking water.
When children encounter nourishing foods daily, healthy preferences are built early.
However, safeguarding schools alone is not enough. If children leave a protected school environment only to face aggressive marketing elsewhere, progress will be undermined. Therefore, the next step must be to strengthen regulation of unhealthy food advertising.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) already has guidance on food advertising, but enforcement and child-specific protections require strengthening.
Restricting the promotion of high-sugar, high-salt, and high-fat products during children’s programming and in and around schools -an approach advocated by organisations such as Meals4NCDs- would reinforce school-based protections.
At the same time, broader consumer empowerment is essential. Even with marketing controls in place, households need clear information to make informed choices.
Strengthening front-of-pack labelling through the Food and Drugs Authority using simple warning labels or traffic-light systems-would allow busy shoppers to quickly identify products high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat.
Yet information alone is insufficient if healthy options remain physically inaccessible. This is where urban planning becomes critical.
District assemblies can support fresh produce markets, promote safe walking spaces, and regulate the clustering of junk food outlets near schools, thereby reshaping neighbourhood food environments to support healthier decisions.
The fork is in our hands -but the system holds the plate. When the easiest foods are the least healthy, disease follows. We still have a window to act.
Our food culture is rich, diverse, and worth preserving -not as nostalgia, but as a living resource for health.
The question is whether policy, planning, and public health will move fast enough to protect families in a fast-changing food system. Because what Ghana eats today is quietly shaping how the nation will live tomorrow.
By Agyemfrah Rachel Akonnobea
Conflict at work is more common than you might think. According to 2022 research by The Myers-Briggs Company, more than a third of the workforce reports dealing with conflict often, very often, or all the time in the workplace. The same report found that managers spend an average of four hours per week dealing with conflict, and nearly 25 per cent of people think their managers handle conflict poorly or very poorly.
Addressing a dispute might feel tense or awkward, but resolving the conflict is typically well worth it in the long run. Whether you’re trying to mediate conflict between colleagues or are directly involved, here are seven steps you can take to manage workplace conflict.
1. Don’t put it off
Facing conflict head-on is hard. However, waiting too long to address it can negatively impact your emotional well-being, focus, and the entire office environment. If you’re feeling angry, letting that emotion fester can also escalate it over time. This can make you less responsive to other points of view and make it harder to resolve the issue.
The sooner you can address the conflict, the better it will be for you, the person you disagree with, and your entire team.
2. Learn all you can about the problem
It’s important to determine the type of conflict you’re dealing with. Begin by considering the cause of the conflict. For example, ask yourself whether someone said something that upset you or if you have emotions of anger and resentment that stemmed from something that happened.
Then try to identify if it’s a task, relationship, value, or team conflict. Once you know what type of conflict it is, you can work to resolve it with specific tactics for that situation.
If you skip this step, you may waste time or escalate the situation further by trying to address issues irrelevant to the real conflict.
3. Actively listen
Listen attentively when people share their side of the story. Active listening is one of the most valuable professional skills you can possess. This type of listening involves not only hearing what the other person is saying but also listening to understand their point of view.
No matter your role in conflict, it’s easy to begin sharing your opinion with little regard for the other people involved. However, it’s important to learn about all sides of a disagreement to make well-informed decisions before drawing conclusions.
To reach a resolution, you must step back and prioritize listening over talking. Ultimately, that will encourage the other person to do the same when it’s your turn to speak. –source: betterup.com
Today, I focus on the Temple Of Praise Ministries International (TOP Church) in Helsinki, as I continue my description of personalities or institutions and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland.
The TOP Church in Finland has seen significant strides and accomplishments that must be made known to the public. 
Some history
The Church was established in Finland in September 2016. Since its inception, it has steadily grown both spiritually and numerically, by the grace of God, as disclosed to me by Mr Matthew Anini Twumasi, the Presiding Elder of TOP’s branch in Finland. The TOP Church has other branches across Africa, Europe, and America.
The Church in Finland was founded with a vision to create a welcoming and dynamic community where people could experience God’s love and grace (see, www.topchurchfinland.org). According to Presiding Elder Matthew, the TOP Church operates within a unique environment where Christianity coexists with what is seen as a largely secular society.
Despite this, he submits, there are significant opportunities for outreach, unity, and demonstrating the love of Christ through service and community engagement.
Activities
Church services at the TOP Church are typically held on Sundays for the main worship. In addition, there are mid-week prayer sessions, Saturday prayer services, and a half-night service held on the last Friday of every month. “We also organise quarterly programs”, Elder Matthew added.
His impression of the Church so far has been positive. “It is a vibrant and welcoming community where members are committed to worship, fellowship, and supporting one another in faith”, he stated.
In sum, Elder Matthew said the Church continues to grow by God’s grace. “We remain hopeful and committed to spreading the Gospel, strengthening the faith of our members, and making a positive impact in society”, he continued.
Achievements
The TOP Church has a number of achievements and achievements. Some of the strengths include strong community bonds, cultural diversity, and deep commitment to spiritual growth.
I also remember that during the COVID-19 period, I heard that the TOP Church was one such bodies that hugely supported its members and others to cope with the situation.
According to Elder Matthew, the challenges facing the church include “adapting to cultural differences, engaging the younger generation, expanding outreach in a secular society, and securing a permanent place of worship”.
Role in the Ghanaian community in Finland
The TOP Church plays a prominent role as a religious group that serves Ghanaian migrants and others in the Finnish society.
Thus, the TOP Church is a religious body for Ghanaian migrants in Finland and other nationalities who want to worship with them for diversity and better intercultural and multicultural understanding.
The Church also has mechanisms in place to support its members who are bereaved as a way to commiserate with them in times of death and funerals.
The Ghanaian community has played a vital role in the growth of the Church. Their strong sense of fellowship, dedication to worship, and active participation have helped build a solid foundation and attract others to the ministry, according to Elder Matthew.
Integration
By its activities, the TOP Church is helping to ensure integration of its members well into the Finish society.
This is important since social interaction and citizens’ well-being are an important part of the integration process.
The role of migrant associations and groups such as TOP Church acting as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision making process and by acting as a representative voice is highly appreciated in Finland. Thank you!
GHANA MATTERS column appears fortnightly. Written in simple, layman’s terms, it concentrates on matters about Ghana and beyond. It focuses on everyday life issues relating to the social, cultural, economic, religious, political, health, sports, youth, gender, etc. It strives to remind us all that Ghana comes first. The column also takes a candid look at the meanings and repercussions of our actions, especially those things we take for granted or even ignore. There are key Ghanaian values we should uphold rather than disregard with impunity. We should not overlook the obvious. We need to search for the hidden or deeply embedded values and try to project them.
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
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