Editorial
Junk foods put children’s health at risk
The United Nation’s (UN), Child Nutrition Report 2025 indicates that 188 million children now live with obesity globally, a figure that has tripled since 2000.
According to the new report for the first time in recorded history, obesity among school-age children and adolescents has overtaken underweight.
The figures are stark: since 2000, obesity rates have tripled, with 391 million children and adolescents overweight and nearly half of them classified as obese.
This signals a troubling change in global health with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) describing it as a red flag that must not be ignored.
Hitherto, the central concern for children was malnutrition; today, over consumption of junk foods such as pizzas, burgers, fizzy drinks, noodles, etc are emerging as a far greater threat.
Junk foods and fizzy drinks are aggressively marketed across schools, shops and digital platforms thereby displacing the craving for balanced diets.
Childhood obesity is strongly linked to conditions such as type-two diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, among other ailments that were once largely confined to adulthood.
Beyond the human cost, the economic toll is projected to exceed $4 trillion annually by 2035 if urgent steps are not taken.
UNICEF is therefore calling for firm action from government and stakeholders which includes mandatory food labelling, restrictions on advertising to children, and stronger safety nets to ensure families can afford nutritious meals.
These are practical measures that governments can implement. More broadly, there is a need to rethink food environments that currently put profit above children’s health.
It is important to note that underweight has not disappeared, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where malnutrition remains a pressing concern.
But the wider picture now shows obesity as the more dominant challenge across most regions. That dual burden of too little food in some places and too much unhealthy food in others reflects the failures of global food systems.
It is important for parents to include fruits, vegetables and proteins in the meals given to children. This will help support their immune system, prevent disease, and improve their digestive health.
Families alone cannot be expected to fight a tide of advertising, cheap calories and limited access to healthier options.
Governments, industry and communities share responsibility for correcting this course. Regulation, public education and support for affordable alternatives are essential.
Addressing childhood obesity is not simply about diet, it is about safeguarding future generations from preventable diseases and giving them the chance to thrive. The time for action is now.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) will administer the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Ghana from Monday, May 4, 2026, to Monday, May 11, 2026, for both school and private candidates.
For Junior High School (JHS) students, it is a crucial evaluation that covers both core and elective areas, such as English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, French, and Ghanaian Language among others.
A total of 619,985 candidates comprising 304,273 males and 315,712 females have been registered to write this final examination for JHS students.
In order to prevent examination misconduct, which damages the legitimacy of the educational system and skews the results of student assessments, candidates are expected to follow the regulations of the examination by WAEC.
Anyone found engaging in examination misconduct will face harsh penalties under WAEC Act 719.
As a result, the Spectator is advising all candidates to be cautious of the directives and make a commitment to always act morally.
We also implore supervisors and invigilators to refrain from any wrongdoing because invigilators have found themselves in trouble in the past.
It is common to feel anxious at examination but we advise candidates not to panic during this time because if they do, their brains will not be able to recall what they have learned.
Relax and you will be able to recall the majority of the material you have studied, but if for some reason you are unable to remember do not be afraid. Leaving a question unanswered is better than receiving a sanction from WAEC due to examination misconduct.
During this time, we expect parents to help their children by providing a peaceful, distraction-free study space and making sure they eat healthily and get enough sleep.
We wish every BECE candidate all the best for the examination, including good health, mental clarity, and protection.
Dear Editor
I wish to use your esteemed platform to welcome Mr Carlos Queiroz, our new coach for our senior national male football team, the Black Stars.
We have read a lot about him and I think looking at his CV, he represents our biggest ‘catch’ in this business.
When his name came up initially, some of us doubted whether we could land him considering our scarce resources.
A coach with experiences with Real Madrid, Manchester United at club sides and national team romance with South Africa and Iran speaks volumes of what he brings to the table.
However, we must not forget that CVs don’t play football. Football is played on the pitch and it is therefore the reason why the noise about his arrival must end and watch out for what he brings to the table.
Currently, we don’t have players we could call world class. Those that comes near that label like Mohammed Kudus and Mohammed Salisu are injured.
The only player making waves in Europe at the moment is Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City.
Carlos Queiroz is not coming as a magician. He would need players who are committed and very good enough. At this moment, we should be praying and supporting him to get the best out of our players.
Directly, I want to appeal to him to take a serious look at the players in individually and access their qualities before bringing them on board.
Some of the players are very good but have just failed or struggled to perform in the Black Stars jersey. One of his task must be to break that ice.
We need nothing bust the best for the World Cup. As Ghanaians let’s support Queiroz to get the best out of the players available.
Andy Muller,
Accra
