Health Ministry considers using Public Health Act review to eliminate unhealthy fats in food products
Ghana's Ministry of Health is exploring the use of the Public Health Act review to expedite the elimination of industrially produced trans fatty acids. This approach aims to bypass the lengthy process of creating standalone legislation.
Why it matters
Legislative efficiency in public health policy is essential for addressing non-communicable diseases linked to dietary habits.
The Ministry of Health is considering using the ongoing review of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), to introduce measures to eliminate industrially produced trans fatty acids (TFA) from food products on the Ghanaian market.
Dr Hafiz Adam, Director for Technical Coordination at the Ministry of Health, said the option was being considered as a faster alternative to passing a standalone law on trans fats.
He said the existing legislative route involved the Ministry of Health, the Office of the Attorney General, Cabinet and Parliament, making the process lengthy.
Dr Adam was speaking at the First National High-Level Stakeholders Forum on the Implementation of Ghana’s National Strategy for the Elimination of Trans Fatty Acids in Accra on Friday, October 2, 2026.
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