Government Uged To Protect Children From Getting Hooked To All Forms Of Tobacco Products.
He stressed that there has been a significant increase in the use of the tobacco products associated with the upset of the deaths and that "if government didn't work hard to let the smokers change their habit of smoking tobacco products, more people are going to die through the use of the products."
Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater 
Director of Programmes at the Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), Mr Labram Musah, has called on the government to stand firm to protect children from initiating and getting hooked to all forms of tobacco products.
He observed that it is now the time for the central government and stakeholders to protect the young generation from using all tobacco products because the use of tobacco products causes chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, lung diseases and diabetes.
According to him, it is now evidently clear that tobacco taxation is one of the most effective ways in addressing the access and affordability of tobacco products.
He indicated that the importance of investing in tobacco taxation has been aligned within key international frameworks including Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Goal 3.4 under “Good Health."
"By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being” SDG Goal 3a under “Good Health," he added.
He said to strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate Abuja Declaration (April 2001), African Union member states committed to allocating 15% of their government budgets to health.
Agenda 2063“…people have a high standard of living, and quality of life, sound health and well-being” The 3rd International Conference for Finance for Development after recognizing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control noted that, as part of a comprehensive strategy of prevention and control, price and tax measures on tobacco can be an effective and important means to reduce tobacco consumption and health-care costs and represent a revenue stream for financing for development in many countries.
He expressed disappointment and condemnation of the display of public smoking carried out on social media musicians and movie artists.
He pointed out they are very disappointed those scrupulous individuals for circulating pictures of themselves smoking a cigar on social media without considering the negative influence this singular act stands to have on the public especially the youth.
According to him, the whole world is currently at a stage where countries including Ghana are finding effective and lasting solutions to curb the rate at which tobacco products are exposed and used by minors and to safeguard the health of both smokers and non-smokers.
Mr Musa made the call when he was giving his welcome remarks at a National Stakeholders Meeting on Tobacco Taxation in Ghana organised by VALD in collaboration with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in Accra on Wednesday, January 26, 2022.
The meeting which brought together tax authorities and health experts was under the
the theme; "Effective Tobacco System: A win-win for Ghana’s Economy and Public Health.
The meeting is also attended by the representatives from the Agric Committee of Parliament, African Parliamentary Network on Illicit Financial Flows and Tax (APNIFFT)- Ghana, Food and Drugs Authority, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, World Health Organization- Ghana NGOs, Civil Society Members of the Press.
This meeting is expected to have a national discourse with key decision-makers within the government that make policy decisions especially on tobacco taxation (GRA, Ministry of Finance/Tax Policy Unit, Ministry of Health) and to have broad base discussions on how as a country we wish to progress concerning tobacco taxation.
The meeting is also to gain some level of commitment and assurance from the government on the way forward.
He recommended that based on the evidence from the study report conducted by Vision for Alternative Development which was duly launched on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, in Accra by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ministry of Finance / Tax Policy Unit and Ghana Revenue Authority take steps to review the current tobacco tax regime and adopt the most appropriate tax measures that conform to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations and the ECOWAS Directives of a shift from the current ad valorem tax to a hybrid tax system (specific and ad valorem tax).
He pointed out that the low pricing of tobacco products remains the tobacco Industry’s primary tactic for enticing new clients (Mostly young people and children), sustaining and addicting new life-long customers.
"The primary focus of the tobacco industry is to encourage young people and children to begin smoking and those trying to quit to continue their deadly addiction. It's sad that still, tobacco is one of the cheapest commodities in Ghana today at jys 2cedis one can get a packet of 10 stills to buy and a stick of cigarette costs just 30 pesewas. Mr Chair, when young people especially children first use tobacco, the more likely they are to become addicted to tobacco and the less likely they are to quit.
Almost 90% of smokers smoked their first cigarette before the age of 18, and almost a quarter of these individuals began smoking before the age of 10.
"Mr Chair, ladies and gentlemen, it important to note the point that although smokers react when prices go up, they reduce their consumption by less than the percentage increase in price, which means they end up paying more in tobacco taxes.
"An article published in The New England Journal of Medicine indicates that a 50 per cent increase in inflation-adjusted tobacco prices reduced consumption by about 20 per cent in high-income and low and middle-income countries. That is why bigger tax increases are more effective," Mr Musah noted.
Because of low excise taxes, he stressed that cigarette prices are far cheaper in many low and middle-income countries compared to high-income countries. Mr Chairman, to conclude, permit me to state the objective of this meeting.
For his part, Mr Christian K. Osei from the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana underscored the need for the government to advise smokers to quit smoking tobacco drug products.
He explained that there has been a significant increase in the use of the tobacco products associated with the upset of the deaths and that "if the government didn't work hard to let the smokers change their habit of smoking tobacco products, more people are going to die through the use of the products."
