The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) 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 intensified efforts to tackle the growing cases of hypertension.
City authorities say the directive is aimed at promoting healthier eating habits and encouraging stricter public enforcement measures to reduce excessive salt consumption, which health experts say is a major contributor to high blood pressure.
According to the Assembly, recent research conducted among 156 food vendors in the metropolis revealed that about 62 percent of eateries routinely provide table salt for customers, a practice officials say encourages the consumption of salt beyond recommended levels.
Speaking to the media, the Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, said the decision forms part of broader public health interventions to address the alarming rise in hypertension cases within 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 far above that amount, increasing the risk of serious health complications.
Mr. Boadi noted that the Assembly would intensify education and engagement with food vendors to promote responsible food preparation and healthier serving practices.
He warned that restaurants and eateries that fail to comply with the directive risk facing legal sanctions under the Assembly’s public health regulations.
The mayor also 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 the enforcement of the directive, together with sustained public education, could help reduce hypertension cases and encourage healthier dietary practices among residents of Kumasi.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
