The Institute of Leadership and Development in-collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), National Health Insurance Authority (NHIS), Ghana Health Service and other stakeholders are currently developing a technical brief on Eliminating Trans-fatty Acids (TFAs) in Ghana’s Food Supply Chain to improve Heart Health. The Policy Brief will form the basis for nationwide sensitization and advocating for legislation on TFA regulation in Ghana. This will serve as the launch pad for the implementation of the WHO REPLACE framework and the trans-fat free Agenda. In view of this, a national Multi-Sectorial (MS) Technical Working Group (TWG) was constituted and tasked to gather the various data for the development of the Policy Brief.
On the 8th of February 2023, INSLA and its partners held the forth National Technical Working Group Forum at the Miklin Hotel to review the Draft TFA Technical Policy Brief for Ghana. This meeting had Representatives from the following Institutions; Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ministry of Health (MOH), Ghana Health Service (GHS), National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Center for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Food Research Institute (FRI), Ghana Education Service (GES) and School Health Education Programs (SHEPs). The other institutions are; Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), GRA Customs Division, Healthy Diets Alliance Ghana (HeDAG), Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health (GCNH) and Consumer Protection Agency (CPA).
The TFA Policy Brief is being compiled by Dr Isaac Agbemafle, the Head of Department, Family and Community Health, of the School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences.
At the National Technical Forum, Mr. Anabila, the Director of INSLA said that the objective of the Policy Brief is to help identify the negative health impact on the consumption of iTFA and to provide scientific evidence to push for sustainable regulatory frameworks to safe-guide the food supply chain.
Dr Agbemafle presented the first draft of the TFA Technical Policy Brief. The Draft TFA Policy Brief covered areas like; What are TFAs?, TFAs negative health impact on the individual and nation as a whole, TFAs relation to Cardio-Vascular Disease Burden in Ghana, Sources of TFAs in Ghana Food Supply Chain, WHO recommendations, Policy Landscape, etc. During his presentation, he made room for inputs from participants.
Dr Roselyn Amoah from the Ghana Standards Authority and Mrs Hikimatu Mohammed from the Nutrition Department of the Ghana Health Service commended Dr Isaac for a good work in putting the document together. Dr Elsie Kudjoe representing the World Health Organization Country Office commended stakeholders and INSLA for the good work done and also assured the Group of WHO’s commitment to the ongoing initiative of TFA elimination.
Dr Mingle Cheetham from the Food and Drugs Authority said that the TFA Policy brief and the initiative in general are on the right path in eliminating TFA from Ghana Food Supply Chain. He also maintained that after the final inputs by Dr Agbemafle the final Document will suffice to aid regulatory actions.
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