The Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi, has announced a new public health policy aimed at reducing excessive salt consumption in the city as part of broader efforts to address the rising prevalence of hypertension among residents.
The policy follows a resolution passed by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly during its sitting on December 18, 2025, which prohibits the open display of salt in restaurants, chop bars, and other food establishments across the metropolis. The move seeks to discourage the widespread practice of placing salt on dining tables, which often encourages customers to add extra salt to meals already prepared with salt.
Announcing the initiative, Mayor Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi emphasized that hypertension has increasingly become a significant health challenge affecting many households and productive members of society within the city.
“Hypertension is no longer a distant health concern; it is affecting families and productive lives across Kumasi,” the Mayor stated. “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 decision by the Assembly was informed by findings from an observational study commissioned by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly in 2025 to examine salt consumption practices in food service establishments across the city. The study assessed 156 food outlets and revealed that about 62 percent openly displayed salt on tables or counters, allowing customers to add additional salt to meals already prepared with salt. Chop bars recorded the highest prevalence of the practice.
The study further revealed that none of the establishments surveyed displayed any health advisory notices regarding salt consumption, highlighting a missed opportunity to promote healthier dietary choices and raise awareness about the health risks associated with excessive salt intake.
Health experts have long identified excessive salt consumption as a major risk factor for hypertension and other noncommunicable diseases. According to Ghana’s national policy on noncommunicable diseases, hypertension prevalence in urban populations is estimated at up to 34 percent. Evidence from the Ashanti Region, where Kumasi is located, indicates that prevalence may be as high as 37.4 percent, with a significant number of cases remaining undiagnosed or poorly controlled.
Globally, the World Health Organization recommends that adults consume less than five grams of salt per day. However, studies conducted in Ghana indicate that the average daily salt intake ranges between eight and ten grams—approximately 1.6 to 2 times higher than the recommended level.
Authorities note that with a large number of residents relying on meals prepared outside their homes, food service environments play a crucial role in shaping dietary habits and influencing long-term health outcomes. The Assembly therefore believes that regulating salt availability in eateries will help promote healthier eating behaviours across the city.
Implementation of the resolution is expected to begin this year and will include a series of public education campaigns, stakeholder engagement with restaurant and chop bar operators, and the integration of salt-reduction requirements into routine environmental health inspections. These measures are intended to ensure compliance while encouraging sustained behavioural change among both food vendors and consumers.
The intervention is being supported by the Partnership for Healthy Cities, a global network of more than 70 cities committed to saving lives by preventing noncommunicable diseases and injuries.
Commenting on the initiative, Joseph Ngamije commended Kumasi’s leadership in implementing evidence-based policies to safeguard public health.
“Kumasi’s decision shows how cities can use local data to take practical action that protects public health,” he noted. “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 for Healthy Cities is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the global health organization Vital Strategies.
Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region and Ghana’s second-largest city, continues to play a key role in advancing policies that promote sustainable urban development and improve the health and well-being of its residents.
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HENRIETTA A.K. ABOAGYE
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For: Metro Chief Executive
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