Stop Smoking Tobacco Products And Save Your Lives From Health Danger .. VALD, GRA And FDA Urge Smokers
The Executive Director of Programmes at VALD, Mr Labram Musah added that some of the tobacco products on the market were smuggled into the country, since our borders are porous.
Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater 
Individuals smokers have been entreated to immediately develop ways and means to deal with situations that prompt them to use tobacco products which is the leading killer of users in the country.
These measures when taken by smokers, according to the Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) would quit smoking tobacco products.
The three organizations noted that quitting smoking can be hard, but it is possible, saying that "In fact, every time you put out a cigarette is a new chance to try quitting again."
"If you want to quit—almost 70 percent of adult smokers say they do—you may want to use a “smoking cessation” product proven to help. Data has shown that using cessation medicine can double your chance of quitting successfully.
"Some products contain nicotine as an active ingredient and others do not. These products include over-the-counter (OTC) options like skin patches, lozenges, and gum, as well as prescription medicines.
"Smoking cessation products are intended to help you quit smoking," the representatives of VALD, GRA, and FDA issued the warning when they were speaking separately to journalists at the press launch of a study report on the economics of tobacco taxation in Ghana on Monday, January 25, 2022, in Accra.
The research was sponsored by Vision for Alternative Development (VALD) and titled “Report on the economics of tobacco taxation/control in Ghana. The research was conducted by Dr. Michael Boachie of the University of Allied Sciences and the University of Cape Town.
The press launch of the report was organized by VALD in collaboration with Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) with the support from Ghana Drugs Authority (FDA).
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Boachie joined the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the health sector to express worry about the current surge of the smoking of tobacco products aiming at rural folks and poor people in the country.
He blamed the alarming situation on the lack of enforcement of smoking laws and regulations in Ghana.
He observed that rural areas have higher smoking rates than urban areas in Ghana, which is leading to manifestations of diseases, disability, and mortality in the country.
Dr. Boachie stated that the poor people smoke more than the rich in the country, saying
that the research conducted in Ghana revealed that smoking habit is increasing among low-income groups and in rural areas in the country.
In the report, Dr. Boachie indicated that the low cost of tobacco products is one of the main contributors to the upsurge in smoking among poor and rural dwellers.
He explained that selling a single stick of a cigarette instead of the box is encouraging young people and low-income earners to smoke.
According to him, whenever the price of tobacco products drops, there is a surge in its usage.
He, therefore, called for measures that would cause a sudden increase in tobacco products price.
Dr. Boachie proposed that not in the distant future, employment opportunities would be afforded first to none smokers.
The Executive Director of Programmes at VALD, Mr. Labram Musah added that some of the tobacco products on the market were smuggled into the country since our borders are porous.
He said the health effects and the cost to families are increasingly becoming worrying.
Mr. Labram used the opportunity to call on the government to adjust the tax on tobacco products to discourage smoking as well as clamp down the illicit tobacco products traders.
He called on stakeholders to rally support for tobacco control initiatives to reduce the crime rate in the tobacco trade and increase revenue for health and development.
That would help in reducing tobacco-related diseases and deaths.
Mr. Musah said the reason for the illicit trade protocol was clear that; “Recognising the enormity of illicit trade in tobacco products, the international community came together to draw up the protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products as well as provide guidance on the development of comprehensive strategies to address the problem.”
“Currently many countries in the African region had started requiring a picture health warning on tobacco products and we are happy to also note Ghana is among those countries requiring pictures on their pack. Not forgetting the tax stamps being implemented by the Ghana Revenue Authority,” he stated.
Mr. Musah said it was one excellent effort to control illicit trade, that had exposed the weaknesses at the country’s borders, adding that: “We hope that there will be a lot more consultation on the way forward in regards shisha in Ghana.”
He recommended to the Ministry of Health and the FDA) to resuscitate the Tobacco Control Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee (TCIACC) to help reduce the impact of tobacco in Ghana from all aspects.
“Imagine a lethal and deadly product with legitimacy to kill, now being adulterated/polluted – your guess is as good as mine …more deaths and disability, so illicit tobacco must be dealt with head-on,” he said.
Madam Marvis Danso from the Tobacco and Substances Abuse Department of the FDA outlined the health effects of smoking tobacco products and stated that as a country, Ghana had made significant strides in tobacco control through the various smoke-free policies outlined in Part Six of the Public Health Act 2012, (ACT 851).
“However, much effort is continually required in counteracting the infiltration of illicit tobacco in Ghana and success can only be attained with the concerted efforts of the developmental partners, CSOs, and stakeholders,” she said.
Coming from the office of the FDA as a regulator, she pointed out the FDA was represented at all border posts of the country to intercept and seize all illicit tobacco products intended for the Ghanaian market.
According to him, the Authority also oversees the registration of tobacco companies, tobacco imports, sales, and supply thorough inspections and other monitoring activities. Various requirements have also been set to enhance the easy identification of licit tobacco products on the market,” she said.
“These are all measures adopted to control the infiltration of our market with illicit tobacco products. For example, tobacco product labeling intended for the Ghanaian market should include, ‘For Sale in Ghana only’, emission statements, and pictorial health warnings validated for use in Ghana.
Although all these measures are in place to curb illicit trade, there have been setbacks in the control of the tobacco product supply chain; most especially in the three northern regions where there have been records of tobacco product smuggling, she stated.
Madam Danso expressed the hope that the implementation of the report would help address some of the challenges and advance the successes of the country in the fight against tobacco use.
She commended the VALD for sponsoring the report and called on VALD the WHO and other stakeholders to continue support to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products.
