A major community-driven health campaign is set to take off this weekend as iThrive Ghana rolls out “Walk For Life,” a free public event aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles and raising awareness about the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in the country.
Scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 6:00 a.m. at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium in Legon, the initiative will bring together individuals from all walks of life for a morning of physical activity, education, and community engagement focused on improving public health outcomes.
The event will feature a 5-kilometre health walk, group fitness sessions, nutrition and health education, fun games, and a local food demonstration, all carefully designed to encourage sustainable lifestyle changes among Ghanaians.
Organisers say the campaign goes beyond a one-day activity, aiming instead to spark long-term behavioural shifts around exercise and nutrition.
In a statement, Lead Convener Professor Richmond Aryeetey described the initiative as a timely intervention in the face of what he termed a growing public health emergency.
“Ghana is facing a health emergency we can no longer afford to ignore,” he said. “Overweight and obesity are no longer diseases of affluence, they are now a Ghanaian reality cutting across all communities, all incomes, and all ages. Walk For Life is our call to action. We are asking Ghanaians to literally take a step together toward a healthier future. This is just the beginning.”
According to iThrive Ghana, recent data point to a sharp increase in overweight and obesity rates, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas, with women disproportionately affected.
These conditions are key drivers of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers—placing a heavy burden on Ghana’s healthcare system and national productivity.
The campaign is rooted in emerging research, including collaborative studies between the University of Ghana and the University of Sheffield, which highlight the significant economic and social costs of inaction on obesity and diet-related diseases.
Organisers stress that despite the scale of the challenge, preventive measures and public education have not received adequate attention.
Through “Walk For Life,” iThrive Ghana seeks to bridge that gap by placing communities at the centre of the solution and encouraging practical, everyday actions that can improve long-term health.
The initiative has attracted support from a range of institutions and organisations, including Blue Skies, Special Ice, MyHealthCop, PlayField, the Ghana Health Service, the Ghana Food Movement, the University of Ghana, TNYOU, and the NCD Alliance, all of whom share a commitment to building a healthier Ghana.
Participation in the event is free and open to the public, with organisers urging individuals, families, and groups to take part and embrace the message of the campaign: move more, eat better, and live healthier.
As Professor Aryeetey emphasised, “It is time to move from awareness to action. The future of our health as a nation depends on the steps we take today.”
Source: Felix NYAABA/ expressnewsghana.com