BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Hundreds of doctors, healthcare professionals, government officials and fitness enthusiasts converged in Kumasi on Saturday for the 2026 Ghana Medical Association (GMA) Ashanti Division Wellness Walk, using the 10-kilometre exercise to champion healthy living and strengthen the fight against the growing burden of lifestyle-related diseases in Ghana.
The event, which commenced at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), formed part of the Association’s broader preventive healthcare agenda aimed at encouraging both healthcare workers and the general public to embrace regular physical activity as a key strategy for preventing non-communicable diseases.
The colourful walk attracted a broad cross-section of participants, reflecting a growing national awareness of the importance of wellness and disease prevention. Leading the exercise were the President of the Ghana Medical Association, Professor Ernest Yorke, and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene.
They were joined by directors from the Ashanti Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service, members of the Junior Doctors Association of Ghana, senior medical practitioners, healthcare workers and other key stakeholders within the health sector.
Addressing participants during the event, the dignitaries expressed concern over the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases, which continue to place significant pressure on the healthcare system.
They stressed that regular exercise, healthy eating habits and other preventive measures remain among the most effective tools for reducing the incidence of these conditions and improving overall public health.
The Wellness Walk also highlighted the Ghana Medical Association’s belief that healthcare professionals must lead by example by adopting healthy lifestyles while encouraging patients and communities to do the same. Organisers noted that doctors, despite the demanding nature of their profession, have a responsibility to demonstrate the benefits of healthy living through their own actions.
Participants described the exercise as both inspiring and refreshing, saying it provided an opportunity not only to improve their physical fitness but also to strengthen professional relationships and reinforce the importance of maintaining both physical and mental well-being in a profession often characterised by long working hours and high levels of stress.
Following the successful event, leaders of the GMA Ashanti Division expressed appreciation to all participants, partner institutions and supporters whose contributions ensured the programme’s success.
They particularly commended the impressive turnout of medical doctors, describing it as a strong demonstration of the profession’s commitment to promoting preventive healthcare and wellness.
They noted that the collaboration between healthcare professionals, government officials and members of the public reflected a shared determination to shift greater attention towards disease prevention rather than treatment, arguing that healthier lifestyles remain one of the most sustainable ways of reducing the country’s disease burden.
