Ghana government urged to strengthen enforcement of laws regulating tobacco, alcohol, sugar-sweetened products

The Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST-Ghana), a civil society organisation, has called on the government to strengthen the enforcement of laws regulating tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages, and close regulatory loopholes.

Mr Labram M. Musah, the Executive Director of VAST-Ghana, in a statement to join the global community to celebrate this year’s International Youth Day, which was copied to the Ghana News Agency, further called for the implementation of higher, earmarked taxes to protect the youth.

The statement said the theme for the celebration: “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” resonated with the main objectives of VAST-Ghana, which sought to empower and safeguard young people from health-harming products within the context of the SDGs.

“The theme also reaffirms the central role of young people in driving progress towards the SDGs, especially SDGs 3.4; ‘Reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 2030.’”

“3.5; “Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol, and 3.a; ‘Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries,” it pointed out.

It noted that alcohol consumption among young people was rising, with cheap, high-alcohol-content and aggressive marketing, often disguised as “social fun.”

The companies of the products frequently sponsor youth events, concerts, and sports tournaments, embedding the products with culture and downplay the risks, the statement said.

It said, “Alcohol use is linked to road accidents, violence, risky sexual behaviour, school dropouts, and long-term health problems such as liver disease and certain cancers,” it stated.

“Similarly, unhealthy diets driven by SSBs and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are fuelling an epidemic of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other NCDs in Ghana,” the statement said, stressing that these products were cheap, widely available, and heavily advertised, and targeted at children and young adults.

The VAST-Ghana expressed deep concerns about the limited access to cessation and rehabilitation programmes for both tobacco and alcohol addiction in Ghana.

It said, “The few existing services are under-resourced and inaccessible to many, leaving young people trapped in cycles of dependency with little support to break free.

“We urgently call for the establishment of well-funded, youth-friendly cessation, rehabilitation, and nutrition education centres nationwide to provide hope and pathways to recovery.

The statement noted that despite existing regulations, these products remained cheap and widely available, often sold to minors through unregulated channels and aided by porous borders that allow illicit goods to flow in unchecked.

The VAST-Ghana echoed the recommendations from the recent African Health Sovereignty Summit held in Ghana, which emphasized the proven impact of increasing taxes on harmful products.

“Higher, earmarked taxes deter youth initiation, reduce consumption among vulnerable groups, and generate revenue to fund education, prevention, cessation, and nutrition programmes,” it stated.

“We believe education is a powerful weapon against the deceptive tactics of harmful industries.

“Therefore, VAST-Ghana is committed to working with schools, communities, faith-based organizations, and the media to amplify awareness campaigns that expose the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy diets,” the statement said.

It said, “We envision a movement led by empowered youth, equipped with knowledge and resolve to reject these harmful trends and champion a healthy, sustainable future.”

The statement called for the adoption and implementation of evidenced-based front-of-pack warning labels to guide healthy food choices and protect consumers from misleading marketing.

It said government must intensify advocacy, community engagement, and partnerships to combat shisha, vaping, alcohol misuse, and excessive sugar consumption, while ensuring that youth voices were central to these efforts.

There is the need for the expansion of cessation and rehabilitation services for tobacco and alcohol addiction and promote nutritional education to prevent diet-related diseases, the VAST-Ghana stated.

It urged the empowerment of the youth as advocates and change-makers, rejecting unhealthy products and leading the charge for a healthier, sustainable Ghana.

“The youth of Ghana are not just the future; they are the heartbeat of our nation today. VAST-Ghana stands firm in its commitment to empowering young people, safeguarding their health, and building a society free from the grip of harmful industries,” it assured.

Source: GNA

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