A study by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), has said if excise tax was levied as a specific tax on tobacco, it would significantly improve the fiscal and public health effects in Ghana. However, it said, since the specific tax would be eroded by inflation, the Ministry of Finance should regularly...
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is liaising with the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation to regulate the advertisement of tobacco and its associate products as part of measures to control its increasing use among the youth. “Though measures have been taken over the years to curb the publicity of tobacco and tobacco products, it...
The Foods and Drugs Authority (FDA)in collaboration with key stakeholders in Eastern Region is implementing a road map for enforcing tobacco control regulations to safeguard public health and safety. The Ghana Health Service, Ghana Police Service, Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority, National Security, Traditional Authorities, Trader Associations, National Investigation Bureau, media, and municipal assemblies...
Accra, Oct. 21, GNA - The Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), a non-governmental organization has launched a 2020 Tobacco Industry Interferences Index Report- Ghana with a call on government to announce in its 2021 budget tax increases on tobacco, alcoholic beverages and other unhealthy products. It stated that since 2015, there had not been tax...
Ghana continues to make significant strides in tobacco control in line with its obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). The strong political commitment to tobacco control is evidenced by the inclusion of tobacco-specific provisions in the Public Health Act, 2012 and the passage of the Tobacco Control Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2247). In...
Mr. Gordon Akurugu, Volta Regional Head of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), has called for effective inter-agency collaboration and harmonisation to guarantee success in enforcing tobacco regulations in the country. He said with the marketing and consumption of tobacco products progressing into diverse forms and trends, concerted efforts by stakeholders had become necessary in...
Ghana is set to complete its ratification of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, an international treaty under the aegis of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The move is a landmark step for a country where one in five cigarettes are sold illegally and an encouraging one, given the deleterious effects that the...
The Vision for Alternative Development (VALD)/Tax Advocacy Network for Health Promotion has held a national stakeholders meeting on tobacco taxation to help reduce tobacco consumption in Ghana. The non-governmental organization is undertaking a tobacco taxation project in the country under the auspices of the Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA), with support from Bill and Melinda...
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Tobacco Control in Ghana have condemned the public display of smoking on social media by Mr. Michael Owusu Addo known in ShowBiz circles as Sarkodie. The CSO’s described the act by the two-time BET Award winner as unprofessional, unethical and unhealthy. They also expressed disappointment in Sarkodie for not considering...
The Programme Director of Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), Labram M. Musah has reiterated the need for the government to ban the use of shisha or water-pipe to secure the health of the population. According to him, the future will continue to be uncertain, especially with the youth developing chronic diseases, due to tobacco use. Mr...
