Health Minister urges action on NCDs and mental health as Ghana prepares for UN High-Level Meeting

Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, has called on stakeholders to translate political declarations on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health into practical solutions that respond to Ghana’s realities. He said this was crucial in bridging global commitments with local needs and in building a healthier and more resilient nation.

The call was contained in a speech delivered on his behalf at the 7th National Strategic High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health, organised in Accra by the Ghana NCD Alliance (GhNCDA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The meeting 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.”

Mr. Akandoh said the forum provided an opportunity to assess progress since the 2011, 2014, and 2018 UN HLMs, identify gaps, and build a unified national advocacy position ahead of the next meeting in September 2025. He urged stronger advocacy for global partnerships that could deliver technical cooperation, technology transfer, and capacity building. He stressed Ghana’s resolve to reduce premature mortality by one-third by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 3.4, saying decisive action would save lives.

In her address, Dr. Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, Chairperson of the GhNCDA, described NCDs as not just a health burden but also a threat to national development and economic stability. She noted that financing for prevention remained limited, leaving patients to bear high out-of-pocket costs. She argued that persons living with NCDs must be included in policy formulation, as their lived experiences offer valuable insights.

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Mr. Labram Musah, National Coordinator of the GhNCDA, outlined civil society’s contributions, including advocacy that influenced the Public Health Act of 2012, reforms in excise duties on harmful products, and monitoring government commitments at both national and international levels. He highlighted persistent challenges such as inadequate domestic funding, weak commitment to allocating health taxes for NCDs, and limited prioritisation of preventive healthcare. He welcomed the WHO Director-General’s recent call for governments to earmark at least 50 per cent of excise tax revenue from tobacco and alcohol for health.

Madam Fiona Braka, WHO Representative in Ghana, raised concern over rising NCD-related deaths in Africa, pointing out that NCDs now account for 45 per cent of deaths in Ghana, with 64 per cent of regional deaths occurring among people below 70 years. She noted Africa’s 21 per cent probability of premature deaths from NCDs was higher than the global average of 18 per cent, warning that prevention alone was insufficient. She said a combination of strategies was needed to achieve SDG 3.4 and universal health coverage.

Madam Braka described the upcoming UN HLM in September as a pivotal event to renew political commitments, accelerate action, and strengthen integrated approaches to NCDs and mental health. She said the meeting would convene 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, expressed hope that Ghana would be well represented at the UN HLM to push for stronger commitments and solutions to address NCDs and mental health challenges.