'Ban Tobacco Promotion'

: from right Labram Musah, Dr Kyei Faried, Joseph Yieleh Chireh with the other dignitaries at the event. INSET: The candy and matches with cigarettes packaging.

According to the group, the implementation of the Tobacco Control Measures of Act 851 would ensure the ban of all forms of advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products in the country.

Labram Musah, programmes director of VALD, at a press conference in Accra, said although the act had been passed, the tobacco industry still carried out some form of tobacco marketing, targeting young people and children below 18.

'Candy, cigarettes and matches depicting picture of a man smoking and a child standing by, which flooded the Ghanaian market are some of the most blatant examples to tobacco advertisement to children,' he said.

Musah therefore noted that the fight against tobacco smoking could only be achieved through the halt on the promotion and sponsorship of the product.

He said, 'Article 13 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHOFCTC) recognizes that only tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship bans that effectively reduce the number of individuals smoking.'

Dr Kyei Faried, Director, Disease Control Department of the Ghana Health Service, (GHS) said the service was working to ensure that the Public Health Act achieved full implementation through carrying out stakeholder sensitization and contributing to the development of the LI.

Dr Faried however noted that the GHS is yet to receive the green light from the Attorney General's department, but was optimistic the 'ground zero' document would be made available by the end of the month to enable GHS continue with its implementation process.

The country representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Idrissa Sow, said tobacco smoking could be reduced by seven percent through banning all forms of tobacco advertisement and promotion.

He therefore noted that the organization would provide the needed technical support for training in cessation counselling.

Joseph Yieleh Chireh, chairman of the parliamentary select committee on health and chairperson for the event, said promoting tobacco was an offence in the country. He urged the public to be vigilant and report any individual distributing products that promoted or sponsored tobacco products.

'We have a social responsibility and the media has a role to play in ensuring that people are aware that tobacco promotion is an offence,' he said.

 By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri