By Eugene Nyarko Jnr.
ACCRA, September 1, 2026 — NCD Alliance Ghana has called on the government to translate its commitments on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health into practical action that is accessible and beneficial to people across the country.
The call comes as the Global Week for Action on Noncommunicable Diseases is being observed from August 31 to September 4, 2026, under the theme: “Leadership in Focus: From Commitments to Delivery.”
According to the Alliance, the call for accelerated action is particularly urgent as NCDs account for more than 45 per cent of deaths in Ghana, placing an increasing burden on individuals, families, communities and the country’s health system.
It said hypertension affects between 20 and 30 per cent of adults, while recent Ministry of Health data indicate that 48 per cent of reported stroke cases were among men aged between 30 and 49.
The figures, the Alliance said, underscore the need for Ghana to strengthen prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation and long-term care, while advancing Universal Health Coverage reforms that integrate NCD and mental health services into primary healthcare.
NCD Alliance Ghana acknowledged measures taken by the government, including the Free Primary Health Care policy and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as MahamaCares, describing them as important steps towards strengthening prevention, early detection and access to specialised care.
It, however, stressed that the priority must now be on strengthening implementation and accountability across the continuum of care.
“The priority now is to build on these gains by strengthening implementation and accountability across the continuum of care, ensuring that prevention and early detection are linked to timely diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and long-term care,” the Alliance said.
It added that national efforts must be reinforced by Ghana’s international commitments, including those made at the Fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health in 2025.
With four years remaining to the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the Alliance called for accelerated progress towards SDG Target 3.4, which seeks to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third through prevention and treatment, while promoting mental health and well-being.
Tackling NCD Risk Factors
The Alliance said Ghana must go beyond encouraging individual behavioural changes and address the wider social, economic, environmental and commercial factors that contribute to NCDs.
It identified tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and air pollution as major risk factors requiring stronger public policy interventions.
The Alliance also called for comprehensive prevention policies to protect children and young people from unhealthy products and harmful commercial influences.
It cited findings from the 2024 Demographic and Health Survey, which showed that 33 per cent of households had introduced sugar-sweetened beverages to children aged between six and 23 months.
The Alliance said the findings, together with concerns about unhealthy food marketing and Ghana’s wider food environment, demonstrated the need for stronger measures to protect public health.
It called for public health policies to be shielded from industry interference, arguing that commercial interests should not be allowed to influence, delay or weaken measures intended to protect the population from products and practices that contribute to NCDs.
Mental Health and Universal Health Coverage
NCD Alliance Ghana said efforts to strengthen NCD services must also adequately incorporate mental health services into the country’s healthcare system.
It called for improved access to mental health services, particularly for people and communities facing the greatest barriers to care, and urged policymakers to keep equity at the centre of Universal Health Coverage reforms.
The Alliance further called for the full operationalisation and adequate resourcing of the Mental Health Fund established under the Mental Health Act, 2012 (Act 846).
The Fund provides a dedicated mechanism to support the care and management of people with mental health conditions, including rehabilitation, facilities, training, capacity building and research.
According to the Alliance, progress towards Universal Health Coverage should be measured by whether people, regardless of their income, location or circumstances, are able to access essential NCD and mental health services.
Call for Sustainable Financing
The Alliance also highlighted sustainable domestic financing as essential to maintaining and expanding progress in the prevention and management of NCDs and mental health conditions.
It called for predictable investments across prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation and long-term care, alongside measures to provide financial protection for patients.
The National Coordinator of NCD Alliance Ghana, Mr. Labram Musah, said the Ghana Medical Trust Fund represented an important intervention in providing specialised care for people living with chronic diseases.
“The Ghana Medical Trust Fund is a major game changer that provides a critical foundation for specialised chronic disease care; however, the current financing is not guaranteed to sustain the long-term implementation of the GMTF, hence the need for earmarking excise tax revenue,” he said.
The Alliance further called for stronger data, monitoring and accountability systems to establish baselines, set measurable targets and track progress against national priorities and Ghana’s international commitments.
It said reliable health information would help guide resource allocation, improve service delivery and identify gaps requiring corrective action.
Civil society organisations and people living with NCDs and mental health conditions, it added, must also be meaningfully involved in policy development, implementation and oversight.
From Commitments to Delivery
As part of its recommendations, NCD Alliance Ghana called for stronger implementation and enforcement of the Tobacco Control Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2247).
It also urged the government to implement the food policy package, including front-of-pack warning labelling, restrictions on unhealthy food marketing, fiscal measures and food procurement standards supported by an evidence-based Nutrient Profile Model.
The Alliance further called for stronger procurement and supply systems to improve access to essential medicines, diagnostics and health technologies.
NCD Alliance Ghana said Ghana had already demonstrated commitment by taking important steps to strengthen healthcare financing and expand access to care.
However, it stressed that the country must now focus on turning those commitments into tangible results through sustained investment, effective implementation and stronger accountability.
“The priority now is to translate these commitments into delivery through sustained investment, accountability and action that ensure people across Ghana can benefit from effective prevention, quality care and financial protection for NCDs and mental health,” the Alliance said.
