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Implementation of healthy food environment policies to prevent nutrition-related non-communicable diseases in Ghana: National experts' assessment of government action

Equity Focus

This study assessed government actions, implementation gaps and priorities to improve the food environment in Ghana. A panel assessed government actions to improve the healthy food environment in Ghana against international best practices.

Case Summary

This project is on the application of the Food-EPI tool in Ghana, West Africa, between October 2017 and January 2019, working with an expert panel to assess the extent of government implementation of recommended food environment policies compared to international best practice and in relation to steps within a policy cycle. The Food-EPI exercise supported the identification and prioritization of actions for implementation by the Ghanaian government. We emphasize the importance of this process in monitoring the implementation of internationally recommended food environment policies, as a critical part of ensuring progress towards better nutritional health. The project is one of the first to successfully apply the Food-EPI process to appraise government actions on NR-NCDs and prioritize actions for implementation in a LMIC setting.

Lessons Learned

• There is insufficient implementation of food environment policies in Ghana. Government action to restrict marketing of breastmilk substitutes is advanced in Ghana. Legislation to regulate advertising/sale of unhealthy food is an identified priority. Leadership, monitoring and evaluation are needed to support policy infrastructure. Funding for nationally relevant research on NCDs is a high infrastructure priority.

LINK TO CASE STUDY