The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has announced an immediate ban on the provision of table salt at public restaurants, eateries and chop bars across the Kumasi metropolis as part of efforts to curb rising cases of hypertension.
City authorities say the directive is intended to encourage healthier eating habits and strengthen public health enforcement aimed at reducing excessive salt intake, which health experts identify as a major risk factor for Hypertension.
According to the Assembly, a recent study conducted among 156 food vendors in the metropolis found that about 62 percent of eateries routinely provide table salt to customers, a practice officials believe promotes salt consumption beyond recommended limits.
Speaking to the media, the Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, said the move forms part of wider public health interventions aimed at addressing the increasing prevalence of hypertension in the city.
“We all know how salt contributes to hypertension,” he said, explaining that while the human body requires no more than five grams of salt daily, many people consume significantly higher amounts, raising the risk of serious health complications.
Mr. Boadi noted that the Assembly will step up education and engagement with food vendors to promote responsible food preparation and healthier serving practices.
He also cautioned that restaurants and eateries that fail to comply with the directive could face legal sanctions under the Assembly’s public health regulations.
The mayor further expressed appreciation to development partners, including Partnership for Healthy Cities, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Vital Strategies, for supporting the initiative aimed at improving public health outcomes in the metropolis.
Health authorities believe that enforcing the directive, alongside sustained public education, could help reduce hypertension cases and encourage healthier dietary habits among residents.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh / Isaac Justice Bediako
