Implement measures to prevent illicit trade in tobacco
Ghana joined the rest of the world to celebrate this year’s World No Tobacco Day with a call on policy makers to adopt and implement effective measures to prevent the illicit trade in tobacco.
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Commemorated globally on May 31 every year, the theme for this year's celebration in Ghana was: “Stop Illicit trade of Tobacco products.”
The programme, which was organised by the Ministry of Health (MOH), brought together students from public health nurses training schools and other health professionals including media personnel.
Illicit trading
The Deputy Director of Disease Control and Prevention Department of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Mr Akwasi Kyei-Faried, said the rate of tobacco consumption in the country was worrisome.
He attributed the situation to the illicit trading in tobacco products which made it cheap and accessible to both adults and children.
Mr Kyei-Faried therefore, appealed to Parliament to take a second look at the Free Zones Act to ensure that all tobacco products were subjected to a single customs duty regime. It should also remove duty exemptions on tobacco products imported into the country.
He expressed concern over the high prevalence rate of tobacco use in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions.
Mr Kyei-Faried further called on the security agencies to investigate and prosecute persons who would engage in illicit trade of tobacco products.
Parents
He called on parents to show more concern in the kind of friends their children made because “currently, 12.8 per cent of junior high school students are using tobacco products in the country”.
As part of events to mark the day, the GHS would embark on an effective sensitisation programme in junior high schools and tertiary institutions to educate students on the harmful effects of tobacco.
Rectify protocol
The Country Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Magda Robalo, said as part of measures to prevent illicit trade in tobacco products, some countries had introduced more effective tracking systems to reduce illicit trade in tobacco products.
She urged Parliament to rectify the protocol drawn by the WHO to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products to demonstrate its commitment to dealing with the problem.
"Let us stop illicit trade in tobacco products to reduce tobacco use and ultimately decrease tobacco-related illness and premature deaths," she advised.