Ghana Health Service Urges Traditional and Religious Leaders to Champion Exclusive Breastfeeding

Mrs. Olivia Mawunyo Timpo, the Deputy Director of Nutrition at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has made a passionate appeal to traditional and religious leaders to use their influence to promote exclusive breastfeeding. Speaking at a Breastfeeding Symposium in Tamale, which was held as part of the 2026 Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Conference, Mrs. Timpo emphasized that community leaders are pivotal in dispelling harmful cultural myths that hinder child health. The symposium brought together various stakeholders to address persistent challenges with malnutrition by reinforcing the necessity of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant's life.

A primary concern highlighted by health officials is the prevalence of misconceptions that suggest infants require additional water or solid foods before they reach six months of age. Mrs. Timpo clarified that such practices are not only unnecessary but can actively undermine public health efforts to ensure healthy child growth and development. By providing infants with nothing but breast milk during their first half-year, families can significantly reduce the risk of malnutrition and associated diseases. To support this goal, the GHS is currently working on enhancing lactation support within health facilities to provide better clinical guidance for new mothers.

Beyond leadership at the community level, the role of fathers and immediate family members is being recognized as a critical factor in breastfeeding success. Personal accounts from fathers, such as Mr. M.A.G., a 36-year-old pastor, illustrate how male involvement in household responsibilities can create a supportive environment. When fathers take on domestic tasks and assist with infant care, it allows mothers the necessary rest and recovery time to maintain a breastfeeding schedule. Research indicates that active paternal participation significantly improves breastfeeding rates, challenging societal norms that often sideline men during early child-rearing.

The symposium concluded with a call for a multi-sectoral approach to creating "breastfeeding-friendly" environments across the country. This includes advocacy for employers to implement supportive workplace policies that accommodate nursing mothers. As the upcoming World Breastfeeding Week approaches, the national focus remains on strengthening support systems across all levels of society—from the home to the workplace. Stakeholders believe that through collective effort and the dismantling of long-standing myths, Ghana can achieve significantly better nutritional and health outcomes for its youngest citizens.