A silent health crisis we can no longer ignore

March 25, 2026

2 minutes read

There is a health crisis quietly unfolding in Ghana, not dramatic, not headline-grabbing, but deeply dangerous all the same.

Kidney disease is a major health concern for Ghanaians, and for many people, it comes without warning. You do not feel it early. You do not see it coming. By the time it shows up, it is often too late.

Health experts and civil society groups are raising the alarm, and rightly so. More than four million Ghanaians are living with chronic kidney disease. Every year, hundreds more progress to its most severe stage.

Behind these figures are ordinary people, parents, workers, breadwinners whose lives are suddenly disrupted by an illness they barely understood in the first place.

And then comes the cost. Dialysis. Transplants. Long hospital visits. For many families, it is simply unaffordable. The burden is not just emotional, it is financial, and often devastating.

But perhaps the most uncomfortable truth is this: much of this crisis is linked to what we eat every day.

Walk into any shop, school canteen or office, and you will find them, instant noodles, sugary drinks, energy drinks, biscuits, chips. They are cheap, convenient and everywhere. For many, they have become a normal part of daily life.

Yet these same foods are often packed with salt, sugar and unhealthy fats. Over time, they increase the risk of conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke, all of which quietly damage the kidneys.

The real problem? Most people simply do not know.

Yes, some products carry nutrition labels. But they are usually hidden at the back, filled with technical terms that mean little to the average shopper.

In reality, many Ghanaians are making food choices without clear, usable information.

That is why The Ghanaian Times believes the call for a Front of Pack Warning Labelling policy by Civil society organisations and health experts is both timely and necessary

It is not complicated. Put clear, visible warnings on the front of food products that are high in salt, sugar or unhealthy fats. Let people see, at a glance, what they are about to buy. No decoding. No confusion.

This is not about banning anyone’s favourite food. It is about honesty. It is about giving people the chance to make better decisions for themselves and their families.

Other countries have done it and it works. Places like Chile and Mexico have seen people gradually shift away from unhealthy options once the risks are made clear. Closer to home, South Africa is moving ahead, with Nigeria and Kenya not far behind. So why should Ghana wait?

We are already paying the price. Non-communicable diseases account for nearly half of all deaths in the country. Government is spending billions on treatment, including funding support through initiatives like MahamaCares. While that support is necessary, it is not enough on its own.

Treating illness without preventing it is like trying to empty a flooded room without turning off the tap.

The Minister for Health, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has an opportunity to make a real difference here. Moving swiftly to implement this policy would be a bold and practical step towards protecting public health.

But this cannot be left to government alone. The media must keep the conversation alive. Schools must educate. Families must pay attention.

And all of us, as consumers, must begin to ask harder questions about what we eat. Because this is not just policy. It is about lives.

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