Health Sector CSOs Commend President Mahama on Committing to Addressing the Surge in Non-Communicable Diseases in the State of the Nation Address

The Ghana NCD Alliance and Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST Ghana) and other health sector civil society commends His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, for demonstrating his commitment to improving the health and well-being of Ghanaians in his just-delivered State of the Nation Address (SONA). We were glad to note that some of our key advocacy asks highlighted in our “2024 Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) Manifesto” to political parties were accepted by the Manifesto committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The NDC manifesto highlighted quite a good number of health interventions, including NCDs.

We are particularly appreciative of H.E.’s plans to establish the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCare) in the coming weeks, which will be dedicated to financing the treatment of NCDs, which have seen a significant rise over the past decade. This initiative is crucial, as over 41 million annual deaths globally are attributable to NCDs, and accounts for 43% of all deaths annually in Ghana.

The commitment to alleviate the catastrophic out-of-pocket payments experienced by persons with lived experience of NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, and respiratory illnesses among others, will be a big relief. Further, the explicit mention of NCDs aligns with Ghana’s commitments to the global NCD agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3.4, which seeks to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030.

However, sustaining the Ghana Medical Trust Fund solely through private sector partnerships will be inadequate; many countries have allocated portions of excise tax revenue to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and associated health complications.

Achieving health for all is a major goal of every health sector, therefore rolling out the Free Primary Healthcare Programme indeed reinforces a significant commitment to advancing universal health coverage. Suffice it to say that the national and global public health community welcomes this laudable initiative.

Secondly, the National Health Insurance Levy, when uncapped as promised by the President in the NDC manifesto, can be one major avenue for additional funds to the government to reduce the financial strain on the NHIS and patients. The uncapping will significantly improve access to essential healthcare services for individuals suffering from NCDs and other health complications, many of whom are burdened by high out-of-pocket costs for medications, diagnostics, and long-term treatment.

The establishment of National Recreation Day, a monthly initiative designed to promote community engagement in physical activities and healthy living, is another welcome initiative that, when implemented and sustained, will to a large extent reduce the health-related challenges, particularly the NCD burden in Ghana.

Physical inactivity is a significant risk factor for NCDs, contributing to obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The 2023 Ghana STEPS Survey reports that 26% of Ghanaians aged 18–69 do not meet the WHO’s physical activity recommendations.

The government must ensure that National Recreation Day is not just symbolic but is backed by concrete policies that promote physical activity at all levels. This includes investments in accessible recreational facilities across urban and rural communities, integrating more hours for physical activity into school curricula, workplace wellness programs, and urban planning that encourages physical activity. Additionally, reintroducing traditional Ghanaian games, community-based fitness programs, and national fitness campaigns can help reinvigorate a culture of movement and exercise. More importantly, all newly constructed roads must be designed to meet the standard of a SMART city, with bicycle and pedestrian walkways separated from each other.

While we commend the government’s commitment and actions so far, we wish to draw the attention of His Excellency, the President, to the following:

The fact is that, the surge in NCDs and other health related challenges which is increasing the morbidity and mortality in across the globe including Ghana is majorly as a result of inadequate interventions on NCDs risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, pollution and unhealthy diet (sugar, salt, fats) including sugar/energy/carbonated drinks.

We therefore will urge the government to commit to implementing policies that will enable Ghana to reduce or eliminate NCDs and other health-related diseases. This will include deliberate efforts towards health promotion at all levels on health-harming commodities/products and unhealthy practices such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, pollution, and unhealthy diet (sugar, salt, fats, etc.), as well as sugar/energy/carbonated drinks and ultra-processed foods.

Introduce or increase the excise taxes on these health-harming products to effectively reduce NCDs, reduce the pressure of healthcare costs on individuals and the state, and increase the productivity of the economy among others.

We also by this statement wish to call on the government to reconsider its decision to scrap the betting tax or increase or reform the tax structure since rapid proliferation of sports betting, particularly among young people and children, is contributing to a silent public health crisis, exacerbating mental health disorders, financial ruin, and social instability which the President seeks to address in the SONA. Betting addiction has been linked to rising cases of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, which in turn increase the burden of NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases and hypertension.

While we commend the President for his recognition of these critical issues, we emphasize that policy statements must be matched with deliberate action and adequate resource allocation. The fight against NCDs requires a multi-sectoral approach that integrates health, education, finance, sports, and other relevant sectors.

We remain committed to working with relevant government agencies to advance the NCD agenda and promote sustainable health and well-being for all Ghanaians, particularly the poor, children, and other vulnerable groups. We stand ready to support initiatives that foster a healthier, more resilient society and call upon all stakeholders to unite to address the growing burden of NCDs in Ghana.

Labram M. Musah

National Coordinator, Ghana NCD Alliance

Executive Director, VAST Ghana

+233 (0) 243 211854

 

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Rhoda Mingle

Communications Manager

+233 (0) 241136371

28^th February, 2025