VAST-Ghana commends the NYA boss for the bold Call to Ban shisha, e-cigarettes, harmful products targeting youth

The Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST-Ghana) strongly endorses Mr. Osman Ayariga, Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), in his urgent call for a nationwide ban on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and shisha as recently reported by Joynews, and Citi newsroom captioned “Ban e-cigarettes, shisha to protect Ghana’s youth – NYA CEO urges”. This timely initiative aligns with our mission to safeguard the health, well-being, and future of Ghana’s children and young people, who are increasingly vulnerable to the deceptive allure of these harmful substances. We stand united in amplifying this call, urging policymakers, stakeholders, and communities to act decisively to curb the rising tide of substance abuse among young Ghanaians.

Tobacco use exacts a devastating toll on Ghana, claiming over 6,700 lives annually, with 66% of these deaths occurring prematurely among individuals under 70, and 18% resulting from secondhand smoke exposure, according to the 2024 Investment Case for Tobacco Control in Ghana. These preventable deaths contribute to GHC 668 million in economic losses each year (0.2% of GDP), including GHC 371 million from mortality, GHC 172 million in healthcare costs, and GHC 126 million in lost workplace productivity.

In Ghana, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory conditions account for approximately 45% of deaths, and tobacco contributes significantly as a key driver.

Whether smoked through cigarettes or waterpipes, or consumed as smokeless variants, tobacco products are saturated with more than 7,000 chemicals of which at least 250 are known to be toxic and over 70 are confirmed carcinogens. The dangers are not confined to the user alone; second-hand smoke exposure also poses significant health threats to bystanders, particularly children and pregnant women, and is linked to premature death and disability.

The surge in e-cigarette, flavored vapes, shisha and other emerging tobacco products use among Ghanaian youth is a public health emergency. According to the 2023 Ghana STEP Survey, shisha use prevalence stands at 7.8%, with young people and women disproportionately affected.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly warned against the adoption of e-cigarettes and shisha regarding them as dangerous and harmful to health. WHO has consistently warned that shisha smoke contains high levels of toxic compounds, including carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and carcinogens, often exceeding the toxicity of cigarette smoke. A single shisha session can expose users to smoke equivalent to 100 cigarettes, increasing risks of cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses. E-cigarettes, while promoted as less harmful, still deliver nicotine, a highly addictive substance that affects cardiovascular health, impairs brain development in adolescents, and contributes to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues- addiction in any form is dangerous. If these products are truly therapeutic or clinically safer alternatives to conventional tobacco products, they must be subjected to rigorous clinical trials, classified as pharmaceutical interventions, and dispensed strictly through medical prescriptions at health facilities.

The accessibility of these products exacerbates the crisis, e-cigarettes and shisha are readily available in shops, kiosks, and markets, often near schools, as evidenced by recent Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) seizures of such products near educational institutions. Priced affordably and packaged attractively, these products are designed to ensnare young people to become addicts, amplified by industry marketing that glorifies unhealthy choices as trendy and aspirational.

Despite having robust legislative framework, including the Public Health Act 2012 (Act 851) and Tobacco Control Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2247) enforcement remains weak. Industries continue to exploit loopholes, targeting vulnerable groups and undermining public health. There is an urgent need for stronger political commitment and well-funded enforcement mechanisms to rectify this situation.

VAST-Ghana calls on the NYA CEO to forge a powerful alliance with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and civil society organizations like VAST-Ghana to drive transformative change. We propose the following actions:

Collaborate with the FDA, and law enforcement to crack down on illicit trade and ensure compliance with advertising and sales restrictions.

Increase taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary beverages, in line with WHO recommendations, to make these products less affordable and less accessible.

Ban all online sale, advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of harmful products, particularly on digital platforms frequented by young people.

Launch nationwide campaigns, building on initiatives like the FDA’s “Daabi – Say No to Drug Abuse” campaign, to educate youth about the dangers of shisha and e-cigarettes.

Leverage schools, media, and community platforms to counter industry misinformation and shift social norms

5. Enact and enforce a nationwide ban on the importation, sale, distribution, and marketing of e-cigarettes, shisha, and flavored tobacco products. The Act 851 and L.I. 2247 provide a strong foundation for expanding restrictions to cover these emerging products.

We believe that creating a smoke-free, addiction-free, and healthier Ghana is a shared responsibility. It requires urgent collaboration between government, civil society, parents, educators, and young people themselves. Our youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are the heart of today’s Ghana. Yet their potential is being sabotaged by products and industries that prioritize profit over lives. We must act decisively to ban harmful products, dismantle the influence of the tobacco and alcohol industries, and champion policies that place public health above commercial interests.

VAST-Ghana reaffirms its commitment to collaborate with the government, regulatory agencies, civil society, educators, parents, and the youth themselves to make Ghana smoke-free, addiction-free, and health-forward.

Let us rise together to protect our youth, reclaim our public spaces, and build a resilient Ghana where every young person has the chance to thrive in health, dignity, and hope.

Labram Musah
Executive Director
Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST-Ghana)

[email protected] / 0243211854