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AGBENYIKEY: Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Ghana 

Secondhand smoke/ environmental tobacco smoke/passive smoke is a mixture of 2 forms of toxic waste of tobacco combustion emitted from smoke that come from the end of a lighted cigarette, pipe, or cigar (sidestream smoke) and smoke that is exhaled from a smoker (mainstream smoke). Nonsmokers exposed to second hand smoke (a process called involuntary or passive smoking) absorb all the toxic chemicals just like smokers do. Tobacco smoke contains over 4000 harmful chemicals . . .

In a review titled “The Tobacco Atlas” conducted in Ghana by J. Mackay, Omar Shafey and M Eriksen, it was reported that smoking prevalence among males 15 years and over range between 20% - 29% and for females 15 years and over, below 10%. The most effective way to prevent secondhand tobacco smoke exposure is to ban smoking in workplaces, homes and other public places such as bars and restaurants. . . .

On 20th June 2003, Ghana signed a treaty with World Health Organization Framework Tobacco Control (FCTC). The treaty recognizes that exposure to tobacco smoke has been scientifically proven to cause death, disease and disability. . . .

The Ministry of Health submitted the tobacco control bill drafted by the Food and Drugs Board to the Government of Ghana in June 2005. In spite of public outcry, cabinet has proverbially sat on the bill and has refused to send it to parliament for them to debate and legislate on the issue. Considering the track record of the tobacco industry, one may wonder if money has changed hands between the industry and the cabinet.

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