In a significant victory against the illicit trade of tobacco products, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has successfully confiscated a substantial quantity of unlawfully smuggled tobacco. The street value of the confiscated products is estimated at GH¢7,951,238.39. The contraband, which entered Ghana through unapproved border routes, was intercepted as part of the...
Ghana’s government has developed a five-year National Tobacco Control Strategy (NTCS) with a goal of decreasing the consumption rate of tobacco in the country, reports The Ghanaian Times. The end goal of the NTCS is to eradicate all tobacco usage. The Ministry of Health, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the World Health Organization and the...
The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance has called on the Standards Organisations of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Police Force, and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection, among others, to immediately commence the enforcement of the graphic health warnings policy on tobacco products. The group said the Federal Ministry of Health had approved a...
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackle tobacco use by children in Nigeria. Dr Jamila Ibrahim, Minister of Youth and Social. The development made the commitment in Abuja on Friday when Ms Bintou Camara, Regional Director, Tobacco Control Programme (AFRO) Campaign for Tobacco–Free Kids paid her a courtesy visit. Ibrahim said that tobacco smoking...
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other stakeholders have bemoaned what they called the high incidences of tobacco industry interference in Nigeria and on the continent, saying more should be done to protect public health policies from commercial and vested interests. Referencing data from the latest Africa Tobacco Industry Interference Index, they noted that Kenya, Nigeria and...
Kenya should increase its cigarette excise duties in line with World Health Organization guidelines, according to coalition of health experts, tobacco control advocates and national development policy specialists, reports People Daily Kenya. The call comes in response to the government’s 2023-2024 financial budget, which for the first time in a decade maintains cigarette tax levels at...
The Portfolio Committee on Health has held more public hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill in Mpumalanga, with opinions on the bill again coming in mixed. The Bill, which has been met with vehement opposition from those within the tobacco industry, broadly aims to introduce the following: Indoor public places...
The Eastern Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is encouraging institutions to incorporate anti-smoking education into their programme activities to help increase awareness about smoking risks and promote healthier lifestyles. The authority believes that by integrating anti-smoking education, institutions can play a vital role in preventing the harmful effects of smoking and...
As new tobacco products targeting children flood the country, the Ministry of Health has agreed to cede more powers to the entity created to fight them. The ministry said it would propose amendments to the Tobacco Control Act to make the Tobacco Control Board stronger. The board was created under the Tobacco Control Act 2007 but...
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) in collaboration with the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) has completed a four-day Africa regional preparatory meeting for the 10th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 10) to the WHO FCTC and the 3rd meeting of the...
