Accra, Feb 26, GNA – SEND Ghana, a leading advocacy organization, in partnership with the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND), has organized a training programme for selected journalists on Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL).
The training aimed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively report on the implementation of FOPWL in Ghana.
Key topics covered during the training included the Ghanaian food environment and its impact on health, understanding FOPWL, potential interference in food policy, the role of media in public health advocacy, and a model media reporting workshop.
The programme also addressed the current state of nutrition labelling in Ghana, highlighting the challenges and opportunities, and emphasized the benefits of FOPWL, including their potential to promote healthier eating habits and reduce the burden of diet-related diseases.
Ms. Baaba Sam, a Field Officer at SEND Ghana, provided an overview of the programme, stating that the objective of the training was to enhance participants’ understanding of FOPWL and strengthen the media’s capacity to advocate for policies through evidence-based, data-driven, and impactful reporting on Ghana’s food labelling policies and enforcement.
She noted that the media played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and raising awareness on important health issues, and therefore, must be equipped to effectively fulfill that responsibility.
“We believe that this training will equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively report on front-of-pack warning labels and promote public awareness and understanding,” she said.
Mr. Joseph Danquah, the General Secretary of GAND, explained that the training was a response to Ghana’s growing crisis of non-communicable diseases, many of which had underlying causes linked to unhealthy processed foods.
He said that GAND was commitment to advocating for mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL) regulations that were appropriate for the Ghanaian market.
The training programme, which is part of SEND Ghana’s efforts to promote public awareness and understanding, was expected to provide participants with a clear understanding of Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL) and their role in promoting public health.
It aimed to equip participants to produce well-researched, fact-based stories and advocate for policies that would require food manufacturers to provide clear and transparent information on unhealthy food products.
A total of 20 journalists from the Print, Electronic, and new media participated in the two-day training.
