Calls for improved nutrition legislation and policy are heard at a workshop in Ghana

The Deputy Chief Nutrition Officer of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Ms Esi Amoafu. © Graphic Online.

On 16 November 2015, the Institute of Development Studies of Ghana organised a workshop on food, markets and nutrition. The event was attended by nutrition experts from government, business, civil society and academia to discuss how to improve the nutrition situation in the country.

At the event, Ms Esi Amoaful, the Deputy Chief Nutrition Officer of the Ghana Health Service, advocated for the promulgation of a Legislative Instrument (LI) to enforce the proper labelling of beverages in the country. Ms Amoaful said the LI would empower state agencies, such as the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to stop the importation of certain kinds of beverages and products that did not meet the required standards.

The Technical Committee Vice Chairman of the Ghana Coalition of Civil Society Organisation for Scaling up Nutrition, Mr Fidelis Avogo, asked the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) to facilitate work on the Nutrition Policy. He indicated that the issue of nutrition had moved a step further from a health issue to a development issue, because of its impact on the wellbeing of people.

Learn more about the event: Graphic Online Ghana