Together, let us build a tobacco-free world

In Ghana, it is estimated that around 2.6 per cent of the population uses tobacco, with a high prevalence among males who constitute 4.8 per cent more than females who take up 0.3 per cent of the figure.

The number of adult smokers in Ghana is 430,855. Adult smoking prevalence in Ghana is 2.1 per cent while the youth smoking prevalence is 3.7 per cent, with 2.2 per cent of all deaths in the country caused by tobacco use.

Despite this relatively low prevalence, tobacco use causes over 6,700 deaths annually, with a significant portion of the affected dying prematurely.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide, accounting for more than seven million deaths annually.

The tobacco epidemic is a major public health threat, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families and communities.

Tobacco use is linked to various health problems, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases.

A worrying trend in the country is that although smoking among people under 18 is illegal, it is increasingly becoming a public health concern.

The 2016 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) indicated that one per cent of adolescent girls and six per cent of adolescent boys aged 15 to 19 have ever used tobacco.

Studies have documented that the youth in the country engage in shisha/waterpipe, cigarette, and marijuana smoking, and that e-cigarette use by young people exceeds that of adults.

The overall economic cost of smoking in Ghana is said to be GH¢1,666,907,245.

This includes direct costs related to healthcare expenditures and indirect costs related to lost productivity caused by illness and premature death.

Also, tobacco spending is said to divert funds from the resources that families need to rise out of poverty, as on the average in Ghana, a smoker must spend 4.9 per cent of GDP per capita to buy 100 packs of the most popular cigarettes in a year.

Not only is smoking a major risk factor for the four major non-communicable diseases which are cancer, heart diseases, respiratory diseases, and diabetes but also people living with mental illness are nearly two times as likely to smoke than other individuals.

According to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), by ratifying the WHO FCTC in 2004 and the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in 2021, Ghana has clearly demonstrated its commitment to tackle the tobacco threat and to improve the lives of its citizens.

Indeed, through the adoption and implementation of the Public Health Act in 2012 and the tobacco control regulations in 2016 we have managed to keep tobacco use prevalence very low with rates well below 10 per cent for males and less than one per cent for females.

However, tobacco use among the youth is worrying. 

In recent years, significant progress has been made in tobacco control around the world, thanks to the efforts of governments, public health professionals and civil society organisations.

Many countries, including Ghana, have implemented tobacco control measures, such as taxation and pricing policies, smoke-free laws, warning labels, packaging and public awareness campaigns.

This year’s World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) campaign aims to reveal the strategies employed by the tobacco and nicotine industries to make their harmful products enticing, particularly to young people.

The Daily Graphic believes that despite the progress made, challenges persist, such as the rise in e-cigarettes among the youth and young adults, and therefore calls for action from the government and policy makers to address the risks associated with e-cigarettes and vaping products.

Also, we call on the government and policymakers to effectively implement and enforce tobacco control measures, including taxation, smoke-free laws and warning labels.

We further call for increased public awareness campaigns and education programmes to help raise awareness about the risks of tobacco use and the benefits of quitting.

Lastly, we urge healthcare providers and organisations to provide support for tobacco cessation programmes, including counselling and medication.