The General Manager of Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Isaac Adjei Okpoti, has called on organisations to prioritise healthy nutrition at the workplace.

He said it was critical to productivity, employee well-being and national development.

Mr Okpoti, who made the call at the Greenstay Initiative organised by the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra last Friday, said unhealthy diets and lifestyle-related diseases increased pressure on individuals, businesses and the healthcare system.

The event, which was on the theme: "Healthy food option not an option: Promoting healthy nutrition for a healthy workforce," featured an exhibition of healthy products by registered participating institutions and brought together policymakers, health professionals and industry players.

The Greenstay Initiative is an internationally recognised, ISO-certified sustainability framework. It standardises how hotels measure, report, and manage environmental footprints such as carbon, water and waste.

Health conditions

Mr Okpoti observed that conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease continued to rise, affecting productivity, increasing healthcare costs and diminishing quality of life.

He said the workplace remained one of the most effective platforms for addressing the challenge, adding that the Greenstay Initiative reflected the hotel's commitment to integrating responsible business practices into its operations by promoting healthier dining choices, reducing food waste, supporting responsible sourcing, and encouraging wellness among employees and guests.

Mr Okpoti stressed that promoting healthy nutrition required a collaborative effort involving the government, the hospitality and food industries, healthcare professionals, educational institutions, food producers, and consumers.

To colleagues in the hospitality industry, he said they had a unique opportunity to lead by example through menus, sourcing and dining experiences that celebrated Ghana’s culinary heritage, while inspiring healthier living.

He, therefore, urged the public to view healthy nutrition not as a temporary trend but as a lifelong investment through balanced meals, reduced sugar and salt intake, regular physical activity and hydration.

Healthy workplace

In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, called on government agencies, the private sector and academia to promote healthier food environments at workplaces to curb the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in the country.

He said Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some cancers accounted for about 45 per cent of all deaths in the country.

That, the Health Minister said, affected people during their most productive years and increased healthcare costs for families and the health system.

Research

He said research showed good nutrition improved concentration, productivity and mental well-being, while it reduced absenteeism and the risk of chronic diseases.

To that end, he urged the hospitality industry, corporate organisations and food manufacturers to adopt healthier menu options, workplace wellness programmes and promote locally produced foods to support farmers and food security.

The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, John Setor Dumelo, also in a speech read on his behalf, said hotels could influence eating habits by sourcing fresh produce from local farmers, reducing processed foods and cutting waste.

He said that it strengthened local economies and supported sustainable food systems.

Mr Dumelo said the government was integrating food system pathways into the 2026-2029 development agenda, with a focus on indigenous, climate-resilient crops such as millet, sorghum and local vegetables.