Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, on Wednesday used humor to underscore a serious public-health concern, cautioning citizens against the growing habit of consuming heavy meals late at night.

Speaking at the launch of the country’s Free Primary Healthcare Initiative, Mr. Mahama linked rising rates of non-communicable diseases to shifting dietary patterns and increasingly sedentary lifestyles. In a lighthearted remark that drew laughter, he urged Ghanaians to reconsider late-evening eating habits, quipping that they should “stop eating banku at night.”

The president contrasted modern routines with those of earlier generations, noting that traditional diets were once offset by physically demanding work such as farming. Today, he said, many workers spend long hours seated, with limited physical activity to balance caloric intake.

“You wake up, eat breakfast, drive to work, sit from morning to evening, and return home to a heavy meal,” he said, framing the issue as part of a broader lifestyle shift with health consequences.

Mr. Mahama’s comments formed part of a wider appeal for preventive health measures, with the new initiative placing emphasis on public education and behavioral change as tools to address the country’s growing burden of chronic illness.

Source:TheDotNews