Ghana

Overview

INFORMAS in Ghana is led by Prof. Amos Laar. He is supported by his colleagues (Prof. Richmond Aryeetey, Ms. Akua Tandoh; Gideon S. Amevinya; Dr. Phyllis Addo) and collaborators from the University of Sheffield/IRD France (Professor Michelle Holdsworth; Dr. Amy Barnes; Ms. Kristin Bash), and University of Auckland/Sciensano Research Institute, Brussels, Belgium (Dr. Stefanie Vandevijvere). Currently, the country implementation team has expanded to include the other partners of the MEALS4NCDs Project including – University of Amsterdam, Netherlands (Prof. Charles Agyemang); African Population and Health Research Center (Dr. Gershim Asiki); University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana (Prof. Francis Zotor); Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, University of Ghana (Dr. Kobby Mensah); Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Ghana (Dr. Matilda Laar); Non-Communicable Disease Control Programme, Ghana Health Service (Dr. Dennis Laryea); Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (Prof. Daniel Sellen).

Ghanaian Team

Dr Amos Laar

Professor

Department of Population, Family & Reproductive Health,

School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.

Phone: +233244982176

E-mail: alaar@ug.edu.gh


Dr Richmond Aryeetey

Professor

Department of Population, Family & Reproductive Health,

School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.

Phone: +233261128506

E-mail: raryeetey@ug.edu.gh


Ms. Akua Tandoh

Principal Research Assistant on ‘Dietary Transitions in Ghanaian Cites’ Project, Department of Population, Family & Reproductive Health,

School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.

Phone: +233200784676

E-mail:atandoh@hm2r.org


 


Dr Amy Barnes

Lecturer in Public Health (Policy)

School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR)-Public Health Section

The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

Phone: (0044)114- 222-0875

Email: a.barnes@sheffield.ac.uk


Kristin Bash

Kristin Bash

Honorary Lecturer in Public Health

School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR)-Public Health Section

The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

Phone: (0044)796-476-8082

Email: k.bash@sheffield.ac.uk


Professor Michelle Holdsworth

Professor Michelle Holdsworth

Professor of Public Health

School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR)-Public Health Section

The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

Phone: (0044)114- 222-0723

Email: Michelle.holdsworth@sheffield.ac.uk


 

Module

Status (as of April 2021)

Outputs
Public Sector (Food EPI)
  • Ghana has completed implementation of the Food-EPI module

 1,2, 3

Private Sector    
Food Composition    
Food Labelling    
Food Promotion
  • Implementation phase
 
Food Prices    
Food Retail    
Food Provision
  • Implementation phase
 
Food Trade & Investment    
  1.  
  1. Laar, A., Barnes, A., Aryeetey, R., Tandoh, A., Bash, K., Mensah, K., Zotor, F., Vandevijvere, S.,
    Holdsworth, M. (2020) Implementation of healthy food environment policies to prevent
    nutrition-related non-communicable diseases in Ghana: National experts’ assessment of
    government action. Food Policy, 93, 101907. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101907

 

  1. Amevinya, G.S., Quarpong, W. and Laar, A., 2020. Commercial food advertising on the campus of Ghana’s largest University. World Nutrition11(2), pp.57-73.

 

  1. Tsrah, P., Quarpong, W. and Laar, A., 2020. Healthiness of foods on promotional flyers of fast-food outlets located within Accra-based shopping malls. World Nutrition11(3), pp.51-61.

 

  1. Laar A, Kelly B, Holdsworth M, Quarpong W, Aryeetey R, Amevinya G, Tandoh A, Agyemang C, Zotor F, Laar ME: Providing Measurement, Evaluation, Accountability, and Leadership Support for NCDs Prevention in Ghana: Adapting the INFORMAS Approach. 2020. Preprint available here https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-99032/v1/e4aaf60e-116a-42fe-932b-d27ed1852cb2.pdf

Reports:

1. Laar, A., Tandoh, A., Barnes, A., Bash, K., Aryeetey, R., Mensah, K., Vandevijvere, S.,Holdsworth, M. (2019). Benchmarking Ghana’s policies for creating healthy food environments. The Ghana Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) Report. Accra, Ghana. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.31120.46081

2. Laar, A., Barnes, A., Tandoh, A., Bash, K., Aryeety, R., Mensah, K., Zotor, F., Vandevijvere, S.,Holdsworth, M. (2018). Benchmarking Ghana’s Food Environment Policies against international examples and progress within development cycle: The Ghana Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) Evidence Paper.

 Conference Presentations:

  1. Laar A., Barnes A, Aryeetey R, Tandoh A, Bash K, Mensah K, Zotor FB, Vandevijvere S, Holdsworth M. Implementation of healthy food environment policies in Ghana: Gaps and priorities to prevent nutrition-related non-communicable diseases. Presented at 4th Annual Agriculture, Nutrition and Health (ANH) Academy Week. 24-28 June 2019. Hyderabad, India

 

  1. Laar A, Amevinya GS, Kumi IA, Tsrah P, Konlan M, Holdsworth M. Providing measurement, evaluation, accountability, and leadership support (MEALS) for NCDs prevention: Lessons from Ghana. European and International Congress on Obesity. ECO-ICO 2020 – –Online September 2020

 

  1. Gideon S. Amevinya, Wilhemina Quarpong, Akua Tandoh, Richmond Aryeetey, Stefanie Vandevijvere, Charles Agyemang, Michelle Holdsworth, Francis Zotor, Matilda E. Laar, Kobby Mensah, Phyllis Addo, Dennis Laryea, Gershim Asiki, Daniel Sellen, Bridget Kelly, Amos Laar. Heavy marketing of energy-dense nutrient-poor foods around public basic schools in Greater Accra region, Ghana. Paper will be presented at the 6th Annual Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Academy Conference (ANH2021). June 21-25 2021; 28 June – 2 July 2021

 

  1. Akosua Pokua Adjei, Gideon Amevinya, Wilhemina Quarpong, Akua Tandoh, Richmond Aryeetey, Michelle Holdsworth, Charles Agyemang, Francis Zotor, Matilda E. Laar, Kobby Mensah, Phyllis Addo, Dennis Laryea, Gershim Asiki, Daniel Sellen, Stefanie Vandevijvere, Amos Laar. How healthy are our supermarkets? Availability of healthy and unhealthy, ultra-processed foods in supermarkets of selected districts of Greater Accra region, Ghana. Paper will be presented at the 6th Annual Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Academy Conference (ANH2021). June 21-25 2021; 28 June – 2 July 2021

 

  1. Laar, A. “Improving nutrition, unlocking potential, and accelerating change in Africa”: The role of measurement, evaluation, accountability, and leadership support (MEALS. Invited Plenary Speaker: The International Congress of Dietetics (ICD). 1-3 September 2021 in Cape Town South Africa

 

Related Conference Presentations (Graduate students):

  1. Tsrah, P, Laar, AK (2020). What is on sale? Healthiness of foods on promotional-flyers of Accra-Based Supermarkets. World Public Health Nutrition Congress 2020; 31 March to  2 April 2020; Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australia.

 

  1. Konlan, M. B. Laar, AK  (2020). Nutrition standards and nature of foods sold at University of Ghana Canteens. World Public Health Nutrition Congress 2020; 31 March to  2 April 2020; Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australia.

 

  1. Konlan, M. Y, Laar, AK (2020). Assessment of the Food Retail Environment in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. World Public Health Nutrition Congress 2020; 31 March to  2 April 2020; Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australia.

 

  1. Amevinya, G.S. Laar, AK (2020).  Commercial Food Advertising at the University of Ghana, Legon Campus. World Public Health Nutrition Congress 2020; 31 March to  2 April 2020; Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australia.

 

  1. Kumi, I. and Laar, AK (2020). Healthiness of Foods and Beverages Advertised on Ghanaian Television Programmes Targeting Children. World Public Health Nutrition Congress 2020; 31 March to  2 April 2020; Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australia.

 

The Africa Food Environment Research Network (FERN) and 1st Meeting

The Measurement, Evaluation, Accountability and Leadership Support for NCDs Prevention Project (MEALS4NCDs) initiated the Africa Food Environment Research Network (FERN) to serve as a regional platform to build capacities and foster collaboration among researchers towards healthier FE in the African sub-region. The first FERN Meeting (FERN2020) which was held November 3rd – 5th 2020 focused on connecting researchers in the African sub-region and Global North whose work relate directly or indirectly to improving food environments in LMICs. The meeting also aimed to build capacity on two approaches developed by INFORMAS – Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) and Food Prices Modules.  Dr. Stefanie Vandevijvere, INFORMAS Food EPI Module Leader and MEALS4NCDs project Co-Investigator led the first capacity building session on the Food-EPI Module. The second capacity building session, delivered by Professor Amanda Lee, INFORMAS Food Price Module Leader and a Professor of Public Health Policy at the University of Queensland, focused on adapting the INFORMAS Food Price module to the African setting. Details are available here: https://www.meals4ncds.org/en/launch-of-the-1st-africa-food-environment-research-network-fern-nov-3-2020/

 

Additional Publications

    • The Food-EPI Module was supported by funds from the ‘Dietary transitions in Ghana’ project. The project was in turn funded by a grant from the Drivers of Food Choice Competitive Grants Programme [Grant # OPP1110043], which is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and managed by the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health, USA.
    • Implementation of the Food Promotion and Food Provision Modules is supported by the International Development Research Centre, Canada (IDRC) as part of the “Measuring the Healthiness of Ghanaian Children’s Food Environments to Prevent Obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases” – MEALS4NCDs Prevention Project (Grant # 108983).
  • The research in Kenya is part of the TACLED project: Transitions in African Cities Leveraging Evidence for Diet-related NCDs funded by a GCRF-MRC led Foundation Award.