4th UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs: Ghana urged to Present Unified Position 

As preparations intensify for the 4th UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) scheduled for September 2025 in New York, Ghana has been urged to adopt a strategic and unified national position to address the growing burden of NCDs.

Director of Allied Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ignatius Awunibuno, made the call at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting on NCDs held in Accra. He stressed the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration in tackling NCDs, emphasizing that fragmented efforts only lead to duplication and inefficiency.

“The silo approach does not bring synergy. We end up duplicating efforts instead of maximizing our potential with limited resources,” Dr. Awunibuno cautioned.

He also disclosed that the government is rolling out “Mahama Care”, a healthcare initiative aimed at eliminating financial barriers and providing free essential services for people living with chronic conditions.

Dr. Awunibuno commended the Ghana NCD Alliance for its critical role in supporting Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and advancing NCD prevention and control efforts in the country.

Also addressing participants, Ms. Nyla Miah, Officer for Capacity Development at the NCD Alliance Global, underscored the significance of the forthcoming UN High-Level Meeting, describing it as a pivotal moment for global health advocacy.

She explained that the meeting will focus on multilateral collaboration, equity-driven strategies, and community engagement, with a political declaration expected as a key outcome.

“This document will articulate bold commitments from member states, shaping their policies and actions toward addressing NCDs and mental health challenges,” Ms. Miah stated.

She further stressed the importance of broad stakeholder engagement — including civil society organizations — to ensure the declaration reflects diverse perspectives and national priorities.

On his part, the National Coordinator of the Ghana NCD Alliance, Mr. Labram Musah, urged Ghana to align its strategies with regional priorities set by the African continent and actively contribute to the drafting of the political declaration.

He said that a summary of the stakeholder discussions would be compiled and presented to the government to guide Ghana’s position at the upcoming UN meeting, ensuring a collective national response to the NCD challenge.

By Derick Bostyoe || GhanaNewsOnline