A/R: KMA Takes Salt Reduction Campaign to Moshi Zongo
Efforts to tackle hypertension and other lifestyle-related illnesses in Kumasi have received renewed momentum as the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) expanded its salt intake reduction campaign to Moshi Zongo in the Manhyia North Sub-Metropolis.
The outreach, organised with support from the Partnership for Healthy Cities, formed part of KMA’s wider strategy to encourage healthier living and reduce diseases linked to excessive salt consumption across the metropolis.
The community engagement attracted a cross-section of stakeholders, including food vendors, caterers, restaurant operators, health practitioners, regulatory agencies, assembly members, traditional authorities and residents from Moshi Zongo and nearby communities.
The forum created an opportunity for open discussions on the dangers of excessive salt use in both household meals and commercial food preparation.
Representatives from several KMA departments, notably Environmental Health and Sanitation, Transport, Social Welfare and the Works Department, used the platform to outline ongoing interventions aimed at improving sanitation, road safety, social protection and general public well-being.
Residents were also encouraged to make full use of municipal services and to maintain active engagement with the Assembly.
The Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang, used the occasion to draw attention to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, which have become increasingly common nationwide. He explained that unhealthy dietary choices, particularly high salt consumption, remain a major contributing factor, and stressed the need for shared responsibility in preventing such conditions.
He urged individuals, families and food businesses to take deliberate steps to moderate salt use and adopt healthier cooking habits, noting that meaningful change requires collective action at the community level.
The campaign slogan promoting reduced salt consumption became a focal point of the event, with residents publicly demonstrating their commitment by pledging to practice responsible salt use and help spread the message within their communities.
The Public Relations Officer of KMA, Henrietta Afia Aboagye, also addressed participants, emphasizing the importance of public understanding of local government structures and functions.
She noted that informed citizens are better equipped to engage with the Assembly, demand accountability and contribute to local development.
She further encouraged residents to sustain communication with their assembly members and KMA officials, explaining that public education initiatives not only improve health outcomes but also strengthen trust and collaboration between the Assembly and the communities it serves.
The Moshi Zongo sensitisation exercise is part of KMA’s ongoing partnership with health-focused organisations to reduce preventable diseases through education, community involvement and behaviour change, as the Assembly works toward building a healthier and more informed Kumasi metropolis.
