On 26th May, the Institute of Leadership and Development (INSLA) joined other organizations at the official launch of World No Tobacco Day 2025, organized by the Foodand Drugs Authority (FDA) with support from the Ministry of Health (MoH), World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners at the Ho Technical University in the VoltaRegion. The event, themed ‘Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobaccoand Nicotine Products’, brought together government agencies, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, and media representatives to raise awareness about the tobaccoindustry’s deceptive marketing strategies targeting young people.
In her welcome address on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of FDA Dr. Delese A. A. Darko, Mrs Nora Nackie Terlabie, Director of Regional Operations, acknowledged the progress made in tobacco regulations over the years. She expressed concerns about the emergence of branded and flavoured tobacco products and emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders, including national actors, civil society, media, and parents, to combat the tobacco industry’s youth-focused tactics.
The event was chaired by Nene Keteku IV, the Paramount Chief of Agotime Traditional Area. In his opening remarks, he spoke about the negative impacts of tobacco and called on communities to support national efforts by raising awareness at the grassroots level. He urged traditional leaders to remain vigilant and resist the promotion of tobacco products in their communities, highlighting the need to protect Ghana’s youth and secure the well being of future generations.
Dr. Fiona Braka, WHO Country Representative for Ghana, pointed out that tobacco kills over 8 million people annually, including more than 1 million non-smokers. Dr. Braka’s message was a strong warning against flavored tobacco and nicotine products that are intentionally designed to appeal to young people. She urged Ghana to take decisive measures, including banning all flavored products, enforcing plain packaging, and significantly scale up cessation services to help those struggling with addiction.
Dr. Naomi Appiah from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) Non-Communicable Disease Control Programme strongly emphasized the need to integrate tobacco cessation interventions into Primary Health Care (PHC). She outlined five strategic approaches for achieving this crucial goal:
- Routine Screening and Counseling: Implementing routine screening for tobacco
use and offering brief cessation counseling at various touchpoints, including Outpatient Departments (OPDs), Antenatal Care (ANC) clinics, and chronicdisease clinics.
2. Capacity Building: Training nurses and Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) staff to provide basic cessation advice and appropriate referrals.
- Integrated Support: Linking cessation support directly to Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) clinics for patients managing conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.
- Community Engagement: Actively engaging community health workers to promote behavior change at the grassroots level.
- Digital Innovation: Leveraging digital tools, such as SMS support systems and mobile applications, to provide accessible cessation guidance.
Dr. Appiah unequivocally reaffirmed the GHS’s commitment to a multisectoral approach to tobacco control, pledging to fully incorporate these essential cessation strategies into the national PHC revitalization plan.
Chairperson of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Dr. Ruby Biaku, expressed concern about the growing threat of tobacco and substance abuse, particularly among youth. She highlighted initiatives by the Society to train pharmacists and raise awareness, especially in universities. Her remarks emphasized the Society’s commitment to reducing non communicable diseases and promoting healthier lifestyle choices.
Mr. Augustus Awity, speaking on behalf of Hon. James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, welcomed stakeholders to the region and commended the FDA and WHO for selecting Ho as the launch site. He reaffirmed the region’s commitment to health promotion and called for stronger community efforts to reduce tobacco use. Mr. Awity encouraged collaboration among traditional leaders, schools, and civil society organizations to support tobacco control education.
Dr. Olivia Boateng, Director of the Tobacco and Substance Abuse Division of the FDA, in her presentation shared insights into Ghana’s progress in tobacco control, highlighting a reduction in prevalence from approximately 9% to 4%. She also reported that 4.8% of Ghanaian adults use tobacco and explained the FDA’s current focus on public education and health screenings, supported by WHO, aimed at raising awareness about the health risks of tobacco. Dr Boateng cautioned against complacency, specifically addressing the growing threat posed by novel products like vapes and shisha, which are often mistakenly viewed as safer alternatives. She concluded her statement by reaffirming FDA’s commitment to regulatory enforcement and long-term health promotion.
Representing the Keynote Speaker, the Minister of Health, Dr. Mintah Akandoh, Dr. Hafis Adam, the Acting Director of Technical Coordination for the Ministry of Health officially launched Ghana’s 2025 World No Tobacco Day celebration by making a passionate call for unified efforts to eliminate tobacco and nicotine use throughout Ghana. He presented a stark reality about the industry’s enticing marketing, revealing that 5,574 Ghanaians die from tobacco-related illnesses each year. Dr. Adam emphasized the critical need to confront the “misleading attraction” of tobacco products and to expose the “harsh realities” associated with their consumption. He concluded by calling on all stakeholders: health workers, civil society, media, and the public to support tobacco control and unmask the appeal of the tobacco industry.
The launch also included cultural performances from the Centre for National Culture. The event reinforced a collective commitment to protect Ghana’s younger generations from the harmful impacts of tobacco and nicotine. Mr. Gordon Akurugu, the Volta Regional FDA Director, elucidated the regional significance of Ho, emphasising ongoing surveillance efforts to combat smuggling activities.
In the closing remarks of the chairperson Nene Keteku IV, he appealed to all traditional leaders to actively support and champion anti-tobacco campaigns within their respective communities. His address underscored the importance of integrating public health messages into traditional governance structures to achieve broader reach and foster community ownership of the tobacco control agenda.
INSLA remains dedicated to working alongside national and regional partners in advancingtobacco control efforts and public health in Ghana.