Vision 4 Accelerated Sustainable Development

28/08/2026

We don't just talk about NCD prevention – we show up for it.

This Thursday, our Executive Director, Labram Musah, and Programmes Manager, Solomon Foli, joined the VAST Ghana team for our keep-fit session as part of our World No To***co Day activities.

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for NCDs, and getting active is one way we can take action. Our Thursday keep-fit sessions are about making movement part of our workplace culture and taking small, consistent steps towards healthier lives.

Check out our aerobic exercise session on YouTube and let's reduce the NCD burden together, one move at a time.

https://www.youtube.com/live/mFNC4yH5y78?si=Z9L4nT7h9_5_zyJG

25/08/2026

"For too long, have been treated as a health issue without enough attention to how we finance the response." - Mr. Labram Musah, Executive Director of VAST Ghana, at the Financing Accelerator Network for NCDs (FAN) 2026 Sub-Saharan Africa Learning Workshop in Accra.

Government financing decisions must translate into real access to quality services for people across the country. Tackling Ghana's growing NCD burden requires not only strong policies, but sustainable financing to make those policies work. Every cedi committed to NCDs must reach the people who need it most.

Prevention, screening, treatment, and care all depend on funding that matches the scale of the crisis. Ghana cannot afford to fall short.

24/08/2026

𝗪𝗘𝗕𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧! 📢

𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆?

The Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), under the Scaling Up Tax Justice (SCUT IV) Project, is organising a webinar to strengthen the capacity of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Ghana to engage in the global tax justice agenda.

The UN Tax Convention presents an important opportunity to reshape global tax rules and advance a fairer, more inclusive international tax system. But what does the Convention mean for Ghana? What are the key issues under negotiation? And how can CSOs engage and influence the process?

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗦𝗢 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲.

📅 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 25 August 2026
⏰ 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 10:00am GMT
💻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺: Zoom (Register via https://bit.ly/4qnFytQ)

🎯 Who should attend: CSOs and advocates working on tax justice, economic justice, gender equality, governance, development and related issues.

Key discussions will include:
🔹 What is the UN Tax Convention and why does it matter?
🔹 The current negotiation process and key issues under discussion
🔹 Implications for Ghana and developing countries
🔹 Gender and tax justice
🔹 CSO engagement and advocacy opportunities

Join the conversation. Strengthen your knowledge. Shape the tax justice agenda.



Tax Justice Network Africa

21/08/2026

Earlier today, we joined the Food and Drugs Authority Ghana , for the 2026 World No To***co Day Health Walk - a global moment of action under the theme "Unmasking the Appeal: Countering Ni****ne and To***co Addiction".

# to***cocontrol ***co control policies in protecting our communities. Behind every flavour, every sleek package, every sponsored moment is a product engineered to create addiction. To***co addiction is preventable, and we will not rest until every Ghanaian can breathe easier. Swipe to see highlights from the walk!

Ministry of Health, Ghana Food and Drugs Authority Ghana World Health Organization (WHO)

***coControl ***coTaxesNow

21/08/2026

What could Ghana's 2027 Budget look like if it truly prioritised public health and domestic revenue? That was the question at the heart of VAST Ghana's participation in the CSOs Budget Forum held on 18th August 2026 at Mensvic Grande Hotel, Accra, because the national budget affects every family, every community, and every sector of our economy.

The forum, organised by Oxfam and the National Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), brought together CSO actors to develop a unified position for the Ministry of Finance ahead of the 2027 National Budget Statement. Representing VAST Ghana was our Executive Director, Mr. Labram Musah, together with Ms. Eugenia Aku Dede Aryee, a National Service Personnel. Mr. Musah delivered a compelling policy advocacy presentation highlighting the need for excise tax reforms that protect public health while strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation.

VAST Ghana called for a shift to a hybrid excise tax on all alcohol products, not just spirits; an upward review of to***co excise taxes; and the introduction of a hybrid excise tax on all sugar-sweetened beverages. The organisation also urged government to reconsider the 20% excise duty cut on fruit juices, provide clear legal definitions for fruit juices, and abolish taxation of e-cigarettes. VAST Ghana further recommended automatic, inflation-based adjustments to specific excise taxes, and the earmarking of excise revenues to support healthcare financing and .

Other CSOs from Extractives, Agriculture and Food Security, Governance, and Anti-Corruption also presented recommendations for consideration in the 2027 Budget. The forum was a powerful reminder that collective advocacy can drive meaningful change. VAST Ghana believes that accountable public finance and effective health policies can deliver improved health outcomes for all, and we welcome every opportunity to engage with policymakers on these critical issues.

***coTaxesNow ***coControl

20/08/2026

Mr. Labram Musah, Executive Director of VAST Ghana, contributed to the Ghana discussions during the Country Challenge Clinics at the Sub-Saharan Africa Cross-Country Learning Workshop 2026, emphasizing that achieving equitable and sustainable requires stronger coordination between the and the Ministry of Finance, Ghana

The Country Challenge Clinics provided an interactive peer-learning platform for participating countries to examine opportunities, challenges and gaps in NCD financing, health management information systems and data systems, while sharing practical experiences from their respective . The discussions highlighted the importance of stronger policy implementation, better use of health data and sustainable financing to ensure that essential services, medicines and diagnostics are integrated into reforms.

For VAST Ghana, these conversations reinforce the need for stronger domestic investment, multisectoral collaboration and financing policies that support , treatment and care as part of Ghana’s broader agenda.

20/08/2026

"Noncommunicable diseases are today one of Ghana's most pressing health challenges. They account for roughly four in every ten deaths in our country, with hypertension and diabetes as the leading contributors, and they are placing growing demands on our facilities, our medicines supply chains and our National Health Insurance Scheme."- Dr. Belinda Afriyie Nimako- Director, Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPME), Ministry of Health, Ghana

Opening the Sub-Saharan Africa Cross-Country Learning Workshop 2026, Dr. Belinda Nimako underscored the urgency of strengthening the response to noncommunicable diseases through sustainable financing and Coverage reforms. She noted that while NCDs account for the majority of deaths globally, they continue to receive a disproportionately small share of development financing for health, making platforms such as the Financing Accelerator Network for NCDs (FAN)*critical for driving collaboration, technical support and country-led solutions.

For VAST Ghana, this message reinforces our advocacy for stronger domestic investment in NCD prevention and care, increased political commitment and financing mechanisms that ensure essential medicines, diagnostics and quality services are accessible to everyone. Achieving Universal Health Coverage means ensuring that the growing burden of NCDs is matched with the resources, policies and partnerships needed to save lives.

20/08/2026

The Sub-Saharan Africa Cross-Country Learning Workshop 2026 officially opened in Accra, Ghana, bringing together delegates from Ministries of Health, Ministries of Finance, National Health Insurance Agencies, development partners and civil society organizations from across Africa and beyond. Co-hosted by and the Financing Accelerator Network for NCDs (FAN), the two-day workshop focuses on accelerating the integration of noncommunicable disease (NCD) services, essential medicines, and diagnostics into Universal Health Coverage (UHC) reforms.

The workshop provides a unique platform for countries to share experiences, discuss common challenges and identify practical solutions to strengthen and health system reforms. As countries move through their journeys, this exchange shows how regional collaboration, evidence-informed policymaking, and peer learning can advance equitable access to quality healthcare.

For VAST Ghana, the workshop reflects our commitment to supporting evidence-driven dialogue and multi-sectoral collaboration that advances sustainable financing for NCDs and strengthens health systems across Sub-Saharan Africa.

19/08/2026

14/08/2026

TGIF!

But it's no excuse to put our health at risk. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases remain a major public health concern. Many of their risk factors are influenced by the environments around us that expose us to health-harming products. This weekend, let’s be mindful of what we consume and support environments that make healthier choices easier.

Prevent NCDs. Build a healthier Ghana.