The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), together with the International Sweeteners Association (ISA), hosted a multi‑stakeholder roundtable and workshop in Accra on Thursday to promote a science‑based dialogue on low/no‑calorie sweeteners (LNCS), nutrition and Ghana’s food policy landscape.
Representatives from government agencies, regulatory bodies, universities, health professional groups, civil society, consumer organisations and the food and beverage sector gathered to discuss how evidence‑driven policymaking can support public health goals and enable informed consumer choices.
Participants exchanged views on the safety and efficacy of LNCS, reviewed the latest scientific evidence and explored their potential role in supporting healthier diets and tackling the rising burden of non‑communicable diseases (NCDs). The workshop also examined recent developments in Ghana’s nutrition policy, including the newly launched Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) and other emerging initiatives.
Laurent Oger, Director General of ISA, said, “We are encouraged by the level of engagement and the openness of stakeholders to discuss the evidence surrounding low/no calorie sweeteners. Around the world, these ingredients have been extensively evaluated by food safety authorities, and it is important that nutrition and food policy discussions continue to be guided by robust scientific evidence. We appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this dialogue in Ghana and look forward to continued engagement with stakeholders.”
Seth Twum‑Akwaboah, CEO of AGI, added, “This workshop provided a timely platform for constructive engagement among regulators, academia, health experts, civil society and industry. As Ghana continues to advance policies aimed at improving public health outcomes, stakeholder dialogue and access to credible scientific information will be critical to ensuring balanced, practical and effective policy decisions. AGI remains committed to supporting these conversations and fostering collaboration across all stakeholder groups.”
The event, part of ISA’s broader African stakeholder engagement programme, focused on global scientific evidence, international regulatory approaches, consumer understanding and the role of innovation in promoting healthier food choices.
Both AGI and ISA thanked all participants and reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing dialogue that supports public health objectives, innovation and evidence‑based policymaking in Ghana.
