Operationalising multi-sectoral food- and nutrition-related policies to curb the rise in obesity in Ghana
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15090474 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Samuel Akwei Sackar (University of Ghana, corresponding author), Charles Apprey (0000-0002-4071-5049, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology), Linda Nana Esi Aduku (0000-0002-8768-442X, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology), Anne Marie Thow (0000-0002-6460-5864, The University of Sydney), Reginald Annan (0000-0002-6559-1636), Reginald Adjetey Annan (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue | 12 |
| Pages | 3230-3238 |
| Publication date | 2023-12-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Public Health Nutrition (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s136898002300037x |
| PMID | 36847129 |
| OpenAlex | W4322495619 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 22 |
Objective: To examine the governance of the food and nutrition policy space with particular reference to interests and power among stakeholders. Design: We followed a case study research design to conduct a nutrition policy analysis. We triangulated three sources of data: key-informant interviews, learning journey and relevant policy documents (2010–2020). This study is grounded in a conceptual framework focused on power. Setting: Ghana. Participants: Key informants ( n 28) drawn from policy stakeholders from government (Health, Agriculture, Trade and Industry), academia, civil society, development partners, civil society organisation (CSO) and private sector in Accra and Kumasi. Results: Power relations generated tensions, leading to weak multi-sectoral coordination among actors within the nutrition policy space. Governance and funding issues were identified as reasons for the weak multi-sectoral coordination. Formal power rested with government institutions while the private sector and CSO pushed to be invited during policy formulation. Visible stakeholders from industry were trade oriented and held a common interest of profit-making; they sought to receive support from government in order to be more competitive. There were no observed structures at the subnational levels for effective link with the national level. Conclusion: Formal responsibility for decision making within the nutrition and food policy space rested with the health sector and bringing on board nutrition-related sectors remained a challenge due to power tensions. Establishing a National Nutrition Council, with structures at the subnational level, will strengthen policy coordination and implementation. Taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages could provide a fund generation avenue for coordination of programmes to curb obesity
Agriculture · Business · Civil society · Conceptual framework · Corporate governance · Economic growth · Economics · Food policy · Food security · Government (linguistics · Political science · Politics · Private sector · Public policy · Sociology · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology · Public Administration · Finance
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| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |