Vice President Opoku-Agyemang and Health Experts Advocate for Global Cooperation and Stronger Nutrition Policies

Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for sustained investment and robust international cooperation to combat global malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Speaking at the opening of the 7th Global Conference of the Micronutrient Forum in Accra, the Vice President emphasized that malnutrition remains a significant barrier to human development, particularly for women and children. The four-day conference, themed "Nutrition at the Frontiers of a Changing Environment," has drawn over 2,200 participants from more than 100 countries to share scientific insights and develop integrated solutions for food security and public health.

During her address, Professor Opoku-Agyemang highlighted specific nutritional challenges within Ghana, including high rates of anemia among women and adolescents and a lack of dietary diversity. She advocated for a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach that links agriculture, health, and education to build resilient food systems. A key component of this strategy involves enhancing the nutritional quality of the National School Feeding Programme and integrating essential nutrition services more deeply into the primary healthcare system. The Vice President committed the government to increasing domestic financing for these initiatives while urging international partners to support sustainable nutrition systems in low- and middle-income nations.

Complementing the call for systemic nutrition reform, health experts have also stressed the importance of localized policy support for maternal and child health. At a separate Lactation Conference in Kumasi, Dr. Isabella Sagoe-Moses, a former Deputy Director of the Family Health Division at the Ghana Health Service, urged the government to establish protective policies for breastfeeding mothers. She emphasized that creating supportive environments in workplaces and healthcare facilities is essential for child survival and family wellbeing. This sentiment was echoed by other stakeholders, including Nanahemaa Adjoa Awindor, who noted that a supportive environment for new mothers is a critical pillar of national nutritional health.

The Micronutrient Forum, which concludes on October 1, 2026, serves as a platform for African leadership and global stakeholders to align their strategies against the growing threats of climate change and economic instability on food quality. By fostering dialogue between researchers, policy makers, and private sector leaders, the conference aims to generate actionable solutions that protect vulnerable populations. The synthesis of these high-level global discussions and local policy advocacy underscores a unified push toward achieving better nutritional outcomes and long-term developmental growth for Ghana and the wider international community.