Ghanaians have been urged to reduce meat consumption to at least once a week for their well-being and to prevent Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
The Executive Director of the Communication Initiative for Change, Emmanuel Fiagbey, said the practice would help reduce the prevalence of heart diseases, diabetes, strokes, kidney diseases, obesity, chronic illness, and certain cancers.
He made the call during a community education session for women’s groups, community leaders, and chiefs at Nima on the ‘Meatless Monday’ campaign with support from the Center for Communication Programmes and the Center for a Livable Future at Johns Hopkins University.
The campaign is a health initiative aimed at encouraging Ghanaians to adopt the practice of not consuming meat at least one day a week. He called on Ghanaians to embrace the “Meatless Monday” campaign.
Mr. Fiagbey emphasized the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables on their ‘Meatless Monday’ as the practice could lower cancer risks, prevent diabetes, and help maintain a healthy weight, among other benefits.
He noted that rapid urbanization and a growing affluent middle class are transforming Ghana’s dietary patterns. Ghanaian urban dwellers are increasingly moving away from traditional food consumption in favor of processed foods and excessive meat intake, despite the associated health risks.
He said market projections indicated that meat consumption in Ghana, including beef, pork, chicken, goat meat, mutton, and bush meat, is expected to rise by 9.57 percent annually, reaching a market volume of US$ 6.65 billion by 2029.
Studies from Harvard University have shown that daily consumption of processed red meat, equivalent to the size of a deck of cards, is associated with a 30 percent increased risk of death from heart disease.
“The meat markets in African countries are projected to expand significantly. In Rwanda, for example, the meat market is expected to grow by 5-7 percent annually, reaching 6.65 billion dollars by 2029,” Mr. Fiagbey said.
The Executive Director expressed concern about the low consumption of fruits and vegetables across Africa, noting that less than five percent of people consume the recommended 400 grams of fruits and vegetables daily.
Mrs. Catherine Adu-Asare, Programme Manager of the Diet Healthy Lifestyle Programme, Nutrition Department of the Ghana Health Service, educated participants on NCDs, stressing the importance of being mindful of excessive meat consumption.
She explained that globally, the four main NCDs responsible for many deaths are cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, and diabetes. These conditions are often caused by lifestyle factors.
“Heart problems account for the highest mortality rate among non-communicable diseases, with 17.5 million people dying annually. Maintaining a good diet, regular physical activity, weight management, drinking alcohol in moderation, and living a stress-free life are crucial to preventing NCDs,” Mrs. Adu-Asare said.
Mrs. Elizabeth Esi Denyoh, Chairperson of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Africa Region, sensitized participants on healthy eating and diabetes prevention and management. She emphasized the importance of being active and eating well to avoid NCDs, noting the concerning number of people living with type two diabetes in the country. She reiterated the need for regular exercise and a cultural shift to reduce the risk.