Jump to full article: GhanaWeb (nl), 2009-11-23
Author: Author: Basiru Adam
Intro: The Executive Director of Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), Issah Ali, has said that if government is committed to fighting hard drugs in the country then it must vigorously tackle the tobacco threat since it is the "gateway" to the use of hard drugs.
Issah Ali of the NGO believes the more people use tobacco, the more they are likely to graduate into the use of Marijuana and hard drugs like cocaine and heroin.
Speaking at a Public Forum put together by VALD, Issah Ali therefore appealed to government to ensure the passage into law of the Tobacco Control Bill, which has been pending for some time now. "We are humbly urging the Minister of Health Designate to ensure government presents the Tobacco Control Bill to Parliament by the end of this month - November 2009."
In reaction to a question on what stage the bill has reached, Ben Botwe of the ministry who represented the minister at the forum said the final draft is almost done and that it will soon be laid before parliament. . . .
An insider source told this writer that the issues are more "complicated" than they seem on the surface. The lobbying power of tobacco companies, the source said, cannot be underestimated and that individuals within the corridors of power have their bread buttered from the industry. Governments? around the world are also reluctant to stop cashing in on tobacco trade; a cost benefit analysis is the last thing they would consider when they are looking for immediate cash to spend.
Indeed, according to Issah Ali, the tobacco industry has no right to interfere with Public Health issues of countries and that British America Tobacco (BAT) must "stop deceiving governments with secret letters and weak arguments, to interfere with public health policies, knowing that what they are doing contravenes international laws." The reference here is article 5(3) of the FCTC.
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