Food vendors, restaurants owners, and chop bar operators have been urged to halt the practice where salt is placed on dining tables for use by patrons dissatisfied with the taste of the food.

Equally, parents have also been admonished not to encourage that practice at home.

This is considered as a measure to reduce excessive salt intake in a bid to prevent or control the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Dr Wallace Odiko-Ollennu, Programme Manager, Non-Communicable Disease Control Programme of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), made the call at a community engagement organised by Communication Initiatives for Change (CIC)–Meatless Monday Ghana, in collaboration with the leadership of the Muslim community in Ghana.

The engagement was aimed at working with Muslim leaders to co-create a social and behavioural change communication programme to guide the creation and dissemination of healthy eating for healthy living messages based on the principles and practice of the Meatless Monday public health initiative.

The programme seeks to combine faith-based teachings, community values and scientific knowledge to encourage healthier food choices and lifestyles among individuals, families and communities.

Addressing the participants, Dr Odiko-Ollennu said making salt less readily available at the dining table could force people to reduce the amount they consume.

In his view, salty sauces and additional salt should only be provided when requested by customers, rather than being placed automatically on tables.

According to him, the practice could help people to gradually adjust to eating less salt and contribute to healthier eating habits.

Dr Odiko-Ollennu also urged Ghanaians to reduce their consumption of meat, particularly red and processed meat, and increase their intake of vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains.

He said food choices played an important role in the prevention and management of lifestyle-related diseases, stressing that people needed to take greater responsibility for what they consumed.

He further encouraged regular physical activity, saying people did not necessarily need expensive equipment or facilities to remain active.

According to him, walking, active household chores and other forms of regular movement could contribute to healthier living.

Dr Odiko-Ollennu also stressed the importance of regular health screening, particularly for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, which could remain undetected until they became serious.

He urged faith and community organisations to encourage their members to undergo routine health checks and seek medical attention when necessary.

The Executive Director of CIC, Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, said the initiative was being developed in response to the growing threat of NCDs and the need to use faith-based platforms to influence healthier behaviours.

He said scientific evidence had shown that eating habits could significantly affect people’s health and that simple changes in diet could reduce the risk of NCDs.

Mr Fiagbey explained that the workshop would identify different audiences within Muslim communities and examine cultural beliefs, values and other barriers that could prevent people from adopting healthy eating practices.

Participants would then work together to develop appropriate health messages, identify suitable communication materials and channels, and mobilise Muslim leaders to disseminate the messages in their communities.

He said the programme would also encourage people to reduce meat consumption and eat more plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.

Mr Fiagbey explained that Meatless Monday did not mean people had to completely stop eating meat, but encouraged them to choose at least one day each week to eat meals without meat.

The initiative is intended to encourage healthier food choices while also promoting greater awareness of the relationship between diet, health and the environment.

The organisers said the collaboration with Muslim leaders was important because religious leaders had strong connections with their communities and could help translate health messages into practices that were culturally and religiously relevant.

They expressed the hope that the programme would empower families, food vendors, mosques and community institutions to promote healthier eating habits and contribute to the prevention of NCDs in Ghana.

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu

The Greenwich Meridian (TGM) Network, a volunteer-driven humanitarian organization committed to promoting dignity and improving the welfare of vulnerable communities, on Thursday, September 10, 2026, cut sod for the renovation of the kitchen facility at the Senior Correctional Centre in Accra.

The sod-cutting ceremony marks the start of a major rehabilitation project to improve the kitchen infrastructure and create a safer, cleaner, and more conducive environment for food preparation for inmates and staff at the facility.

The renovation works will include installing new windows and doors, terrazzo floor finishing and wall tiling, upgrading the electrical system, and painting the entire kitchen area.

The intervention is expected to significantly enhance hygiene, safety, and the overall functionality of one of the facility’s most essential operational spaces.

Speaking during the ceremony, representatives of the TGM Network reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the correctional institution through this practical intervention, which will improve living conditions and contribute to the rehabilitation and well-being of inmates.

According to the Network, improving the physical condition of the kitchen is not only an investment in infrastructure but also a contribution to healthier food preparation practices and a more dignified environment for both correctional officers and inmates.

Officials of the Senior Correctional Centre welcomed the initiative and expressed their appreciation to the TGM Network for its continued support.

They noted that the renovation project would address long-standing infrastructural challenges and improve the efficiency of
daily kitchen operations, ultimately benefiting everyone within the facility.

The kitchen rehabilitation project forms part of the TGM Network’s broader humanitarian agenda, which focuses on supporting vulnerable communities through sustainable and impactful interventions.

In recent years, the Network has undertaken numerous outreach activities,
including medical screening programmes, psychosocial support initiatives, educational and motivational engagements, donations to orphanage homes, and humanitarian support to correctional facilities across Ghana.

In December 2025, the Network organized a major outreach programme at the James Camp Prison in Accra, where inmates received free haircut services, medical screening, clinical psychological support, meals, and essential donations, including farming equipment and food items.

The initiative was widely commended by prison authorities for its contribution to inmate welfare and institutional self-sufficiency.

Looking ahead, the Greenwich Meridian Network continues to expand its impact through initiatives focused on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), vocational skills development and youth empowerment, women’s and girls’ empowerment programmes, community-based medical
outreach, disaster relief support, the establishment of a community clinic, and a food bank to assist vulnerable families.

The commencement of the Senior Correctional Centre kitchen renovation reflects the Network’s belief that meaningful rehabilitation extends beyond programmes and services to include the improvement of physical infrastructure that supports dignity, health, and human development.

Through partnerships and volunteerism, the TGM Network continues to demonstrate that sustainable community transformation is achieved through collective action and a commitment to serving those most in need.

Members of the public and organizations interested in supporting the Network’s humanitarian initiatives or joining its volunteer efforts can learn more by visiting website.
[12:54, 11/09/2026] David Ocran: Shatta Wale gives Prissy Wan1 ultimatum to retract mental health comments

Dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale, has given TikTok user Priscilla Kyeremaa, known as Prissy Wan1, a 48-hour ultimatum to retract comments she made about his mental health or face legal action.

His lawyers, Porta Legis Consultancy, in a letter dated September 10, 2026, accused Ms Kyeremaa of publishing defamatory comments about the artiste on her TikTok page, “prisywan1”, on August 29.

The lawyers said the publication followed an interview Shatta Wale granted broadcaster Serwaa Amihere on August 28.

According to the lawyers, Ms Kyeremaa, in the video, told Shatta Wale: “Shatta, I am so sorry. I am sorry for saying this but you have …
[12:54, 11/09/2026] David Ocran: Police rescue kidnapped victim at Assin Fosu

The Central North Regional Police Command has rescued a 30-year-old man who was allegedly abducted at Assin Fosu in the Central Region.

According to the police, the victim is currently receiving medical attention.

Efforts are ongoing to arrest the suspects involved in the abduction.

The Command says investigations continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and that further details will be communicated in due course.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme