Kumasi Mayor announces new salt reduction policy to tackle rising hypertension

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has passed a resolution on the open display of salt in all food establishments across the city.

This move, according to the Kumasi Mayor Richard Ofori Agyemang, aims to reduce excessive salt consumption and curb rising rates of hypertension among residents.

The resolution follows a 2025 study showing 62% of food establishments openly display salt, enabling customers to add extra salt to meals. Ghana’s non-communicable diseases policy estimates hypertension prevalence of up to 34% in urban populations, with some areas reaching 37.4%.

The resolution, approved during the assembly’s December 18th, 2025 sittings, targets a common practice in restaurants, chop bars, and other food outlets where salt is often placed on tables, encouraging overconsumption beyond what is used in food preparation.  

“Hypertension is no longer a distant health concern; it is affecting families and productive lives across Kumasi,” said Richard Ofori Agyeman-Boadi, Mayor of Kumasi.

By addressing everyday risk factors such as the routine availability of salt on dining tables, we are taking a practical and preventive step to protect the health of our residents.

"This resolution reflects our resolve to create healthier food environments for all.” 

The policy decision is informed by new local evidence.

In 2025, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly commissioned an observational study of 156 food service establishments.

The study found that 62% of establishments openly display salt on tables or counters, enabling customers to add extra salt to meals already prepared with salt. Chop bars recorded the highest prevalence of this practice. 

The study also found that none of the assessed establishments displayed health advisories on salt consumption, highlighting a missed opportunity to promote healthier choices and raise awareness about the risks associated with excessive salt intake. 

Ghana’s noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) policy estimates hypertension prevalence of up to 34% in urban populations, while evidence from the Ashanti Region, where Kumasi is located, shows prevalence as high as 37.4%, with substantial levels of undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension.”

With many residents relying on meals prepared outside the home, food service environments play a critical role in shaping dietary habits and long-term health outcomes.

While the WHO recommends less than 5g of salt per day, studies in Ghana show average consumption of approximately 8–10g daily, about 1.6-2 times higher than the WHO's recommendation.

Implementation of the resolution will begin this year with planned activities including public education campaigns, engagement with food service operators, and integration of salt-reduction requirements into routine environmental health inspections.

These measures aim to ensure both compliance and sustained behavior change. 

This intervention is supported by the Partnership for Healthy Cities, a prestigious global network of more than 70 cities committed to saving lives by tackling preventable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and injuries. 

NCDs and injuries are responsible for 80% of all deaths globally. With the majority of the world’s population now living in urban settings, cities and their leaders are uniquely positioned to transform the fight against NCDs and injuries and reduce preventable deaths by implementing policies that are proven to prevent exposure to risk factors, such as unsafe streets. 

Through the partnership, Kumasi joins other cities worldwide in implementing proven interventions that reduce exposure to major NCD risk factors.

“Kumasi’s decision shows how cities can use local data to take practical action that protects public health,” as explained by Joseph Ngamije, Deputy Director for Africa, Partnership for Healthy Cities.

“Banning the open display of salt in food establishments is a proven approach to reducing excessive salt consumption and an effective way to prevent hypertension. Kumasi is demonstrating leadership by acting on evidence.”

The partnership, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the global health organization Vital Strategies, is aimed at curbing the canker totally out of the system. 

Kumasi, being the capital of the Ashanti Region and Ghana’s second-largest city and a major cultural and commercial hub, the city is committed to improving the health and well-being of its residents through sustainable, evidence-based urban policies. 

The Partnership for Healthy Cities is a prestigious global network of more than 70 cities committed to saving lives by preventing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries.

Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with WHO and the global health organization Vital Strategies, the initiative enables cities around the world to deliver a high-impact policy or programmatic intervention to reduce NCDs and injuries in their communities.