Ghana’s Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has called on national and international stakeholders to move beyond political declarations and translate commitments on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health into practical, context-specific solutions. Speaking through a representative at the 7th National Strategic High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health in Accra, Mr. Akandoh said this
approach was essential to bridging global pledges with Ghana’s realities and to building “a healthier and more resilient nation”. The meeting, organised by the Ghana NCD Alliance (GhNCDA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, was themed “Bridging Global Commitments with Local Realities: Ghana’s Roadmap to the 4th UN High-Level Meeting (UN HLM) on NCDs and Mental Health.” It served as a platform to review progress since the UN HLMs of 2011, 2014, and 2018, identify gaps, and develop a unified national advocacy position ahead of the September 2025 global gathering.
Mr. Akandoh urged stronger advocacy for partnerships that could deliver technical cooperation, technology transfer, and capacity building, reaffirming Ghana’s determination to reduce premature mortality by one-third by 2030 in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.4. “Decisive action will save lives,” he stated.
Dr. Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, Chairperson of the GhNCDA, described NCDs as not only a health burden but also a threat to national development and economic stability. She noted that prevention financing remained limited, leaving patients to shoulder high out-of-pocket costs. Dr. Wiafe-Addai argued that people living with NCDs must be directly involved in policy formulation, as their lived experiences provide valuable insights into effective interventions.
GhNCDA’s National Coordinator, Labram Musah, outlined civil society’s contributions to the fight against NCDs, citing advocacy that influenced the Public Health Act of 2012, reforms in excise duties on harmful products, and monitoring of government commitments at both national and international levels. He pointed to persistent challenges, including inadequate domestic funding, weak commitment to allocating health taxes for NCDs, and limited prioritisation of preventive healthcare. Musah welcomed the WHO Director-General’s recent call for governments to earmark at least 50 percent of excise tax revenue from tobacco and alcohol for health purposes.
WHO Representative in Ghana, Madam Fiona Braka, expressed concern over the rising toll of NCD-related deaths in Africa. She noted that NCDs now account for 45 percent of deaths in Ghana, with 64 percent of regional deaths occurring among people under the age of 70. Africa’s 21 percent probability of premature death from NCDs, she said, is higher than the global average of 18 percent.
Madam Braka warned that prevention alone would not be enough, advocating for a combination of strategies to achieve SDG 3.4 and universal health coverage. She described the upcoming UN HLM as a
pivotal opportunity to renew political commitments, accelerate action, and strengthen integrated approaches to NCDs and mental health. The meeting, she explained, will bring together heads of state, governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector to review progress and agree on new frameworks that emphasise equity, integration, sustainable financing, and multi-sectoral collaboration.
Professor Kwasi Torpey, Dean of the School of Public Health and chair of the occasion, voiced optimism that Ghana would be well represented at the UN HLM to push for stronger commitments and practical solutions to address the dual challenges of NCDs and mental health. His remarks reflected a shared sentiment among participants that the September meeting offers a critical moment for Ghana to align its domestic strategies with global health priorities while ensuring that those strategies are grounded in the country’s specific needs.
As Ghana prepares for the UN High-Level Meeting, the discussions in Accra have reinforced the urgency of moving from rhetoric to action. The call from government, civil society, and international partners is clear: the fight against NCDs and mental health challenges requires sustained investment, inclusive policymaking, and coordinated strategies that can deliver measurable improvements in health outcomes for all Ghanaians.
