http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/country/ghana.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.businessghana.com/portal/news/index.php?op=getNews&news_cat_id=&id=86603 http://tobacco.org/news/267840.html African Regional Meeting on Tobacco Control Building for Africa, is underway in Accra to brainstorm on strategies to curb the about 5.4 million global annual deaths related to tobacco. The participants, which comprise 17 African countries and representatives from the US and Switzerland would be spending the next two days to discuss the tactics to reverse the findings of a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the death toll per year would rise to eight million by 2030 with 80 per cent of the victims from Third World countries. The consultation, which is a follow-up of a similar meeting in Geneva in February this year, would use the 2008 WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, as a reference point to identify the strengths and weaknesses of tobacco control in the Region. Business Ghana Africa Ghana Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://gbcghana.com/news/21038detail.html http://tobacco.org/news/267721.html An expert in Tobacco Control in Africa, at the Dr. Metshidiso Moeti says though there has been political commitments in implementing conventions on Tobacco Control on the continent there still remains a lot more to be done. She noted that there is the need to accelerate the peer of strengthening the response to tobacco control, to guarantee the health of the people. Dr. Moeti who is the W.H.O. Director for Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases in Africa was speaking in an interview with Radio Ghana, at a Regional Consultative Meeting in Accra. Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Ghana Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.ghananewsagency.org/s_social/r_4770/ http://tobacco.org/news/267038.html Three armed robbers on Tuesday robbed the Hohoe-based Wally Chums Limited, local distributors of British American Tobacco (BAT) Company and bolted with sales amounting to GH¢ 2,796. The robbers, who got away in the movie fashion, in a waiting car, initially requested to buy some cigarette products from Mr Nicodemus Gblormashie, the Depot keeper, who was then checking the previous weekly sales at about 1100 hours. Ghana News Agency Ghana Thu, 29 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://spectator.newtimesonline.com/spectator/content/view/1499/39/ http://tobacco.org/news/266549.html "The profuse smoking in many films is part of the deceptive antics of tobacco companies, indeed some of the actors and actresses are not smokers," says the Deputy Minister of Health Dr Gladys Ashitey who made this revelation appealed to filmmakers and event organizers not to allow tobacco companies to hook the youth to smoking through their work. Launching this year's World No Tobacco Day in Accra on the theme 'Tobacco - free Youth,' Dr Ashitey noted that the profuse smoking in many films shown on televisions and sponsorship of beach parties and various musical concerts are usually patronized by the youth and thus, called for measures to tackle the problem. She therefore challenged governmental, non-governmental organisations, religious bodies and the private sector to pursue actions aimed at protecting the youth from the subtle and deceptive marketing strategies. . . . Dr Ashitey said her ministry in collaboration with other stakeholders are working to ensure the passage of a Tobacco Bill into law. When passed, she said it will constitute the legal frame work for the enforcement of tobacco control activities in the country. The Spectator Ghana Sat, 07 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.ghanaweb.com/public_agenda/article.php?ID=10421 http://tobacco.org/news/266336.html Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Gladys Ashitey has announced that her ministry is collaborating with other stakeholders to get the tobacco bill passed into law. This she said will give more meaning to the ratification of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and will constitute a legal framework for the enforcement of tobacco control activities in Ghana. The WHO FCTC which contains evidence-based policies for reducing tobacco use, describes the health impact of tobacco use and reflects a shared global commitment to action. Speaking on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day which fell on Saturday, Dr. Ashitey stated that the theme for this year, “Tobacco-Free Youth” is a global call for all countries to put systems in place to protect the fragile and dedicate youth from the glamorous and deceptive advertisements of the tobacco industry. GhanaWeb Ghana Mon, 02 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.ghanaweb.com/public_agenda/article.php?ID=10409 http://tobacco.org/news/266335.html On Saturday, May 31, Ghana joined the rest of the world to mark World Tobacco Day. The theme for this year’s ceremony was “Tobacco-Free Youth” and was a global call for all countries to put systems in place to protect the fragile and delicate youth from the glamorous and deceptive advertisements of the tobacco companies. The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Gladys Ashitey announced that the government has moved a step forward to demonstrate its commitment to lead the crusade against tobacco use and to strengthen public health practice in general by ratifying the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. One fact that came out during the events was that tobacco is the second major cause of death worldwide and the fourth commonest risk factor for illness. . . . This calls for a comprehensive ban on all forms of advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products. Specifically, the ban on smoking in public places should be enforced, if we are to protect passive smokers from the carefree attitudes of smokers. The government, the media and civil society organizations need to pursue policies and embark on educational programmes to teach the youth not to be deceived by the several myths that tobacco use can enhance learning. It is becoming clear that a ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is a powerful tool to protect the youth and is one of the WHO’s strategies designed to combat tobacco use. GhanaWeb Ghana Mon, 02 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.modernghana.com/news/163337/1/BAT-CEPS-Fight-Counterfeiting http://tobacco.org/news/264325.html The British American Tobacco (BAT) company and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) are engaged in a two-day anti-counterfeiting workshop at the La Palm Royal Hotel. The two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate in the area of fighting counterfeiting and trading in such products with particular reference to cigarettes. In his overview of the workshop, Don Ayao Dussey, BAT's Corporate & Regulatory Affairs Manager, West and Central Africa, described the event as another milestone in the fight against illicit trade in Ghana. . . . "It is in recognition of the tremendous contribution of CEPS and other security agencies to reducing the illicit trade that we donated 12 jungle motorbikes to help CEPS in their efforts to have better control of our borders and the product flow," he said. BAT, he said, was committed to setting high standards of good corporate citizenship by helping to improve the capacity of their partners in the process of eliminating illicit trading activities. . . . Some 12 countries mostly in Africa and the Middle East accounted for most of the financial losses of BAT in terms of illegal trade in tobacco products. Nigeria with a very big market, he pointed out, accounted for $48 million, followed by South Africa with $44 million. Modern Ghana Africa Ghana Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=19&art_id=nw20080131152758443C937719 http://tobacco.org/news/258959.html Cameroon coach Otto Pfister came under fire on Thursday for setting a bad example by smoking at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi during Saturday's game against Zambia. The condemnation of the 70-year-old's decision to light up in a stadium where smoking is banned came from the Abibimman Foundation, a local non-government health organisation. The body issued a statement accusing the oldest manager at the African Nations Cup of giving a bad image to young people in Ghana and Africa at large, the Ghanaian Times reported. . . . It recalled that Pfister is a well known figure on the continental football stage, and carries serious influence with the youth of the country. The Independent Online Ghana Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.ghanaian-chronicle.com/thestory.asp?id=5007 http://tobacco.org/news/257687.html Currently, there is no legislation on tobacco control in Ghana although the Minister of Health has presented a draft bill to cabinet. On World Tobacco Day in 1989, a policy statement was made to ban smoking in public places including cinemas, restaurants and public offices. In 1991, the Ghana Government banned smoking on the premises of any Ministry of Health premises in the country and also outlawed direct advertising of cigarettes and other tobacco products on radio, television and newspapers. This ban is still respected by the mass media, but some form of tobacco advertisement occurs where a brand is used to advertise a program it is sponsoring. Points of sale and billboard advertisements are still permitted and the warning signs are barely readable. Of all places, bars, restaurants and nightclubs have the highest air concentration of secondhand smoke, however, these places have generally been excluded from smoke-free policies. Ghanian Chronicle Ghana Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=136073 http://tobacco.org/news/257160.html 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. GhanaWeb wilfred.agbenyikey@yale.edu (Wilfred Agbenyikey) Ghana Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=136147 http://tobacco.org/news/256852.html Mr. Justice V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe, Commissioner of Statute Law Revision, Attorney General's Department was on Monday awarded with a special prize and certificate by the World Health Organisation (WHO), African Regional Office for his contribution towards tobacco control. . . . Justice Crabbe is the first Ghanaian to have won the prize. The award was given at a seminar on Global Tobacco Surveillance Dissemination in Accra, by Dr Joiaquim Saweka, WHO Country Representative who praised Justice Crabbe for bringing to bear his experiences as a drafter of constitutional laws on the draft bill. "On behalf of the Director General of WHO, Dr Margaret Chan and Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, I congratulate Justice Crabbe for winning the award", he said. During the seminar, Major Courage Quashigah, Minister of Health said tobacco should be seen as a health issue and not as a human right issue. GhanaWeb Africa Ghana Mon, 17 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=135593 http://tobacco.org/news/256523.html Clinicians in Africa and developing countries must build a database on smoking, alcohol and substance abuse through research to enable them to inform and advise policy makers on the appropriate strategy required to curb the menace. Dr George Amofa, Deputy Director-General of Ghana Health Service, made the point in Accra on Friday at the opening of a two-day consultation meeting on the use of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test tool dubbed: 'ASSIST' and brief intervention strategies against substance abuse in African countries. It was organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO). GhanaWeb Ghana Sat, 08 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT http://allafrica.com/stories/200709110939.html http://tobacco.org/news/252299.html LARGE QUANTITIES of Bond cigarettes manufactured by Philip Morris International (PMI) which has no agency in Ghana were found to be stocked in a warehouse in Kumasi . A container full of about 1,094 master cases of the stuff were found at an old sawmill which serves as a warehouse at the Kaase Industrial Area in Kumasi. The cigarettes are believed to be counterfeit since they are being sold at a ridiculously low price of ¢1.5 million per master case instead of the normal price of between ¢3milion and ¢3.5 million. All-Africa.com Ghana Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:00:00 GMT http://allafrica.com/stories/200706080897.html http://tobacco.org/news/248107.html APART FROM being the most guinea worm endemic and most economically disadvantaged region in Ghana, the Northern Region is now rated as the region with the highest incidence of cigarette smoking and use of other tobacco products in Ghana. According to Ghana Health Service Demographic Survey (2003), the Northern Region which is predominantly Muslim, is leading in cigarette smoking with 17.7% while the Upper West and Upper East Regions are also following in the second and third positions with 15.3% and 11.4% respectively. Addressing a Press Briefing in Tamale to mark the '2007 World No Tobacco Day', the Northern Regional Health Promoter of the Ghana Health Services (GHS), Alhaji Abdul B. Yakubu expressed serious disappointment at the positions of the three Northern Regions on the Ghana Demographical and Health Survey. All-Africa.com Ghana Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:00:00 GMT http://www.businessdayonline.com/?c=44&a=11689 http://tobacco.org/news/243169.html In a climax to the closure of BAT Ghana, the global tobacco group, British American Tobacco (BAT) Investment B.V has paid Ghanaian shareholders of the company the sum $15-million (N1.9-billion). The pay-off, which started on February 6 and ended, saw BAT Investment paying for 30,652,820 ordinary shares priced at 4,266 cedis (about N70) per share. A letter HSBC London, bankers for BAT Investment, had written to the Ghana Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission in December 2006 informed the regulatory agencies of its client's decision to pay off the Ghanaian shareholders as a result of closing down its Ghanaian production outfit. BusinessDAY Ghana Mon, 05 Mar 2007 05:00:00 GMT