Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Health on Tuesday inaugurated two experts committees to have an oversight responsibility of ensuring the establishment of a bioequivalence centre and deal with poor diet and unhealthy lifestyles.

The committee on diet is to work within a six-month timeframe whilst the bioequivalence have eight weeks to submit its report to the Minister.

Whilst the bioequivalence centre would support the local pharmaceutical manufacturers to attain WHO pre-qualification, the diet committee would deliberate and make recommendations to reduce the risk of oils, sugars and salts as disease causing agents and minimise non communicable diseases.

The Minister noted that, the two committees are crucial in strengthening the health care delivery systems, and improve on the healthy lifestyles of Ghanaians.

She said the country lack a standard bioequivalence centre, which deprive local manufacturers the opportunity to be included in accessing global funds.

The Bioequivalence committee would be chaired by Mr James Ohemeng Kyei, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana whilst the diet committee would be headed by Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, former Director-General of Ghana Health Service.

Ms Ayittey said: “Inappropriate edible fats have been identified as the cause of obesity and pot belly, cardiac diseases, mental and nervous diseases, autism, Alzheimer disease, menstrual pains, pregnancy complications, headaches, cramps and other health related ailments.”

She said the Ministry would expedite action on developing guidelines on the suitable fats for the food chain with due consideration to the health, economic and cultural implications based on national interest.

She tasked the diet committee to find out the health risk of trans-fatty acid in the Ghanaian food chain, the health risk of salt and sugar in the Ghanaian diet and recommend the most suitable edible fats for food, taking into account the health, economic and practical implications.

Members will also recommend the levels and types of salt and sugar to be consumed and provide guidelines for the implementation of their recommendations within the context of the historical, cultural and traditional practices.

They will also consider any other lifestyle issues relevant to the subject matter.

The bioequivalence committee would also among others design a financial model for the project and propose possible sources of funding, determine the comprehensive needs of the centre, location, modalities for land acquisition and timelines for the commencement and completion of the project.

Mr Ohemeng Kyei noted that the establishment of the bioequivalence centre would enhance local pharmaceutical manufacturers to achieve their dream of being WHO prequalified so that they could produce quality assured medicines that would be competitive on the international market.

Prof Akosa commended the Minister for the initiative in ensuring that Ghanaians lead healthy lifestyles that would reduce non communicable diseases.

“We will ensure that the final recommendations would benefit the entire population, increase life expectancy and make Ghana a healthy nation free from non-communicable diseases,” he said.