Prospects of sugar-sweetened beverages taxation: Sour consequences or sweet solution?

In the ongoing battle against rising rates of obesity and diet-related diseases, the ubiquitous consumption of sugary drinks has soared ever so highly over the past few decades that the idea of taxing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has gained momentum worldwide. Proponents argue that such taxation could be a sweet solution to a “bitter” health crisis.…

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The Mounting Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases in the Savannah Belt of Ghana and its Implication on Livelihoods

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), often known as chronic diseases, are non-transmissible illnesses of often long-term or long duration. They include heart diseases and stroke (cardiovascular diseases – CVDs), diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer and mental health conditions just to mention a few. They are driven primarily by a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioural factors…

The effects of sugar-sweetened beverages on health

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are non-dairy or non-alcoholic beverages that have caloric sweeteners added to it. More simply, they are drinks with the largest source of added sugar in the diet. They include carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks/sodas, flavored/fruit juice drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened tea and coffee drinks, and electrolyte replacement drinks. Added sugars…

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A4H Coalition lauds Akufo-Addo for assenting Excise Duty Amendment Bill

The Advocating for Health (A4H) Coalition, comprising academics, civil society organizations, public health and nutrition professionals, is commending President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, for assenting the Excise Duty Amendment Bill, 2022. This bill, among others, seeks to tax sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and rake in an estimated 400 million cedis annually. While the effects of…

Yes! Taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages is a ‘Win-Win-Win’ Public Health Intervention

Overweight/obesity are currently on the increase in most developing countries. They are also risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and an increased risk for some forms of cancer (Renehan et al., 2008;World Health Organization, 2015). In Ghana, nearly 43% of the adult population is either overweight or obese…

Do Not Relent, Get It Done to Promote, Protect and Guarantee the Health of Ghanaians, as Health Costs and Deaths Linked to Diet-Related Non-Communicable Diseases Mount.

 “In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes” – Benjamin Franklin once said. On ‘taxes’, it is a common refrain in daily conversations of Ghanaians – as they lament “over-taxation”. An associate of mine once noted: “when one makes money, one gets taxed, when one spends, one gets taxed, and when one saves,…