Public Smoking Banned

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has brought to the notice of the general public, the ban on smoking in public places.

Offenders of the law are to face possible prosecution and subsequently imprisonment, according to the FDA.

This notice is to make sure that non-smokers are safe from the tobacco smoke.

Tobacco smoking is scientifically known to contain over 7000 chemicals, 70 of which cause cancer and affect all parts of the human body.

Those who inhaled the smoke are exposed to all these chemicals and are at danger of the immense health consequences. The part six of the Public Health Act 2012 was renewed to protect the people against the dangerous effects of tobacco.

'A person shall not smoke tobacco or a tobacco product or hold a lighted tobacco product in an enclosed or indoor area of a work place, or any other public place except in a designated area', as stated by the section 58   of the Public Health Act,2012,Act  851.

The Act also mentioned the public place to include but not limited to the following places; all workplaces like the factories, and offices, restaurants, pubs, places where children are cared for, health and educational institutions, cinemas, shopping malls, markets, recreational areas, stadia, public transport vehicles, transport terminals and places of collective use.

The general public is to pay attention to the fact that second-hand smokers are first exposed to the harmful effects of tobacco use, which include heart diseases, lung cancer, sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory tract infections, and severe asthma attack in children amongst others.

All owners of places where smoking is prohibited are expected to clearly post signs that showed a 'no smoking' area.

People who tend to be defiant, by not heeding to this legal requirement would be sanctioned and also be made to pay fines or imprisoned.

The general public are further advised not to be reluctant to report to the FDA, any person who flouted these directives.

By Celestine E. Mensah