Business News of 2026-09-02
Ghana plans new rules for food labels, advertising and taxes
Ghana is developing new measures to regulate how food products are advertised, labelled and taxed as part of efforts to address concerns over poor nutrition and unhealthy diets.
The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) disclosed this after meeting officials from the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and The Coca-Cola Company on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
In a Facebook post sighted by GhanaWeb Business, the NDPC said the meeting focused on Ghana’s food and nutrition policies and their potential impact on businesses, consumers and public health.
Principal Planning Analyst at the NDPC, Nii-Odoi Odotei, said four measures are currently being developed. They include restrictions on food advertising, front-of-pack nutrition labelling, food-related taxes and regulations covering food provided in public institutions.
The proposed measures come as Ghana continues to grapple with undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and rising levels of overweight and obesity.
'Don't invest' – BoG, SEC warn against crypto platform using fake Mahama video
Odotei said data from 2022 showed that 17.4% of children were stunted, while 6% experienced wasting. Anaemia affected about 49% of children under five and 41% of women of reproductive age.
He attributed changes in eating habits partly to urbanisation, changing incomes, inflation, climate pressures and increased consumption of highly processed foods.
According to him, Ghana needs to take a broader approach to food and nutrition by examining the entire food system, from production and storage to transportation, markets, consumption and food waste.
He also called for regulatory impact assessments and wider consultations with businesses before the proposed measures are introduced.
Senior Director and Public Policy Lead for Africa at The Coca-Cola Company, Shiletsi Makhofane, raised concerns about the potential cost to businesses of complying with the proposed requirements, particularly those relating to imported products, packaging, labelling and branding.
He called for clarity on the standards businesses would be required to meet to give them sufficient time to prepare.
“We are open to engagement,” he said.
Borrowing costs set to ease as Ghana Reference Rate drops to 10.18%
NDPC Director-General Dr Audrey Smock Amoah said the Commission would continue engaging businesses and other stakeholders as the policies are developed.
She said the consultations would help ensure that concerns raised by affected groups are considered before the measures are implemented.
DR/MA
