According to Ghana News Agency:igarettes and nicotine devices has garnered over 3.4 billion views on social media, highlighting the industry’s relentless efforts to target youth.

Dr. Braka noted that Ghana is not immune to this trend. The 2023 Ghana STEP survey indicates that 4.8 percent of adults currently use tobacco products, with usage significantly higher among men. Alarmingly, shisha use has a prevalence of 7.8 percent, disproportionately affecting young people and women. She outlined WHO’s support to Ghana’s tobacco control efforts, including strengthening the National Tobacco Track and Trace System, supporting the development of a roadmap to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products, and providing technical guidance for amending the Public Health Act.

Dr. Olivia Boateng, Director of Tobacco and Substance Abuse at the FDA, highlighted the challenges of emerging products like shisha and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), despite Ghana’s low national tobacco use rate of 4.8 percent. Among tobacco users, 9.3 percent are men and only 0.3 percent are women, particularly for combustible products. However, shisha and ENDS usage is higher among young females, at around 9.3 percent. She emphasized the dangerous misconception that flavored products like shisha are safer, despite containing nicotine and over 7,000 harmful chemicals.

Dr. Ruby Biaku, representing the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), noted the collaboration with FDA in training pharmacists to prevent the misuse of controlled medicines and raise awareness about tobacco’s health risks. Public education initiatives by the Society extend to tertiary institutions, empowering students with knowledge on the dangers of tobacco and substance abuse.

Dr. Hafez Adam Taher, Acting Director for Technical Coordination at the Ministry of Health, highlighted the government’s dedication to reducing tobacco use through bold regulatory actions. Ghana has ratified the WHO FCTC and enacted policies such as the Public Health Act, Tobacco Control Regulations, and a ban on smoking in public places. The government continues to provide resources to the FDA and partners to enforce these control measures, urging all stakeholders to support and promote tobacco control messages across communities.