Saturday, November 21, 2009

NGO holds forum on Tobacco Control Bill

NGO holds forum on Tobacco Control Bill
http://news.peacefmonline.com/social/200911/32209.php
Date: 20-Nov-2009
Source: GNA


Government would ensure that tobacco control is included in the country's developmental agenda to free Ghanaians from tobacco addiction, disabilities and death.

Already the Ministry of Health has taken steps to ban smoking in health facilities and prohibited tobacco advertisement through various administrative directives.

Dr Benjamin Kumbour, Minister of Health-designate announced this in an address read on his behalf at a public forum on Ghana's Tobacco Control Bill in Accra on Thursday.

It was organised by Vision for Alternative Development, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in collaboration with Coalition of NGOs in Tobacco Control and Media Alliance in Tobacco Control.

It was aimed at offering the participants the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the passage of the Tobacco Control Bill when presented to Parliament.

Some of the provision of the bill included the ban of smoking at public places, advertisement on tobacco and sponsoring events and sales by children under 18 years.

Dr Kumbour said the World Health Organisation (WHO) report indicated that close to five million people die annually as a result of tobacco use and exposure to the smoke.

He said tobacco was projected to kill more than 10 million smokers and passive smokers by 2030 with 70 per cent in developing countries including Ghana.

Dr Kumbour said Ghana played a key role during the negotiation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

He said Ghana was among the first 40 parties to the Convention, adding that Ghana had since participated in all meetings and inter-governmental Negotiation Bodies.

The FCTC is a global collective decision taken by more than 168 countries including Ghana and that the development of the convention was approved by the WHO Assembly and negotiated under the auspices of the WHO.

He pledged the ministry's commitment to ensuring that children and the youth were not exposed to tobacco use and the use of hard drugs.

"Dr Kumbour expressed the hope that the recommendations of the forum would be considered by the Ministry in ensuring a strong law to control tobacco in the country.

Mr Issah Ali, Executive Director of Vision for Alternative Development, said the use of tobacco was the gateway to the use of hard drugs, which was causing harm to most Ghanaians.

He therefore urged the government to protect its citizens against diseases by putting up measures to control the menace.

Dr Promise Sefogah, Programmes Director of Doctors for Right To Health (DRH), an NGO said tobacco was the leading, cause of preventable disease death world wide and that it had serious negative effects on every single organ of the body

He therefore urged the youth to desist from using tobacco which he said had negative effects on their mental and physical development.

Friday, August 28, 2009

VALD selected to participate in global summit

VALD selected to participate in global summit
By Naa Bettey Nelson
Ghanaian Chronicle
Mon, 24 Aug 2009
(http://www.modernghana.com/news/234547/1/vald-selected-to-participate-in-global-summit.html)

Vision for Alternative Development (VALD) has stated that Labram M. Musah the General Secretary, will represent the organisation at the premiere of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland, from August 24 – 26, this year.

This is the first-ever event to bring together world leaders, advocates and corporations from more than 60 countries to address the global cancer burden.

The VALD is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) established to promote alternative initiatives and development at all levels of society.

It has the following as its working objectives: To engage in health promotion and information/tobacco control, to support community participation in decision making and to advocate for cultural diversity, peace and development.

VALD is the leading NGO in Ghana advocating for the implementation of the Frame Work Convention on Tobacco Control to reduce cancer and heart diseases.

The Summit is the landmark event of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign, an effort of the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF).

Labram Musah will represent the organization's commitment to fight cancer in Ghana and engage with world media, political leaders, representatives of non-governmental organizations and corporate leadership.

Cancer is a worldwide public health problem. It accounts for 12.5% of all deaths, more than the percentage of deaths caused by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria put together, is the second leading cause of death in developed countries, and is among the three leading causes of death for adults in developing countries.

In 2002, there were 6.7 million cancer deaths worldwide with less than 5% of these in sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that by 2020, cancer could kill 10.3 million people worldwide, with a 50 to 75 percentage increase in cancer mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.

As of now Ghana has no national statistical records of cancer cases, but a research conducted by the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) revealed it.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Tobacco Companies target Africa

Tobacco Companies target Africa
Public Agenda
Friday, June 12, 2009.
By Basiru Adam

Following increased pressure from Europeans countries, Tobacco companies are said to have found Africa a safe haven where control measures are loose in many countries. Countries like Nigeria and Senegal are hosting large manufacturing plants from where the whole sub-region is served the harmful drug. Organizations in the fight against tobacco use are thus worried that if African governments do not act on the matter, the consequences could be dire for the continent. Particularly worrying is the allure tobacco holds for the youthful population. The truth of the matter is that governments make loads of money from the tobacco industry. It is as such difficulty to convince any such government to sever ties with the industry. But a counter argument from anti-tobacco activists is that the complicated health conditions that result from tobacco use and the attendant medical expenses cost a nation much more money. Finding that calling for a total ban on tobacco manufacture would be an uphill task; activists say control measures need to be strengthened. A global demand on manufacturers is the need for picture warnings on the product to help smokers who cannot read to know the dangers involved. Incidentally, this year’s World No Tobacco Day was celebrated on the theme “Tobacco Health Warnings.”

“The general consensus globally is for the use of warnings which are the fusion of texts and pictures. Research has shown that tobacco health warnings which incorporate pictures are more effective in conveying the message of the harm wreaked by tobacco,” says the CEO of the Ghana’s Food and Drugs Board (FDB), Dr. Stephen Opuni. According to Ms. Sophia Twum-Barima of the WHO office in Ghana, “It is the smoker’s right to know what he is smoking.” She laments that “currently, the warning is so small that you cannot even see it. It is not explicit enough. We want a definite warnings; one that says tobacco kills.”

Indeed, Dr. Stephen Opuni says Tobacco companies have been given August 1st 2009 as a deadline to discontinue the importation of cigarette packs without the approved health warnings. By a similar token, the companies have been given the December 31 as deadline to mop up old cigar packs already on the market without the health warnings. African governments are also being encouraged to charge higher taxes on the product so that it would be sold at a much higher price to the consumer as a way of discouraging its use. Ms. Sophia Twum-Barima says that “currently, tobacco is so cheap that even children can buy it.”The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) which was negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization is the fulcrum around which the global fight against tobacco use is being waged and 164 countries including Ghana was among the first forty countries which supported the entry into force of the FCTC. As African governments are also being encouraged to charge higher taxes on the product so that it would be sold at a much higher price to the consumer as a way of discouraging its use. Ms. Sophia Twum-Barima says that “currently, tobacco is so cheap that even children can buy it.”The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control [FCTC] which was negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization is the fulcrum around which the global fight against tobacco use is being waged and 164 countries including Ghana was among the first forty countries which supported the entry into force of the FCTC. As an objective, the convention seeks to “protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption.”Article 4 of the convention demands that “every person should informed of the health consequences, addictive nature, and mortal threat posed by tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke, and effective legislative, executive, administration or other measures should be contemplated at the appropriate governmental level to protect all persons from exposure to tobacco smoke.” Ghana responded by putting together a committee in 2002 to draft a Tobacco Control Bill. The passage of the bill is what has remained an issue over the last couple of years in the country. Civil society organizations have been particularly up and doing calling on government to ensure speedy passage of a strong law to regulate the industry, vis-a-vise the country. Civil society particularly is keen on seeing a ban on smoking on public.

Vision for Alternative Development [VALD] is on such NGO which has been working over the years in ensuring good health for both smokers and affected non smokers. VALD held a national stakeholders meeting on tobacco Control Bill this week aimed at scrutinizing the bill and making inputs where necessary. With the help of Mrs. Pearl Akiwumi-Siriboe, a Pincipal State Attorney, several aspects of the bill were scrutinized and recommendations where necessary were made. In the end, a communiqué was adopted, which called on government to as matter of urgency ensure the passage of a strong law in the country. According to the Executive Director of VALD Issah Ali, “Ghana is considered a role model in Africa and a leader in tobacco control and good governance. Good governance ensures that the vulnerable such as children, youth, pregnant women and consumers are fully respected of their social background.” He believes therefore that Ghana should do all it can to maintain its enviable position on the continent.

Tobacco Kill, ban it

Tobacco Kill, ban it
Public Agenda
Monday, June 1st, 2009
By Basiru Adam

Vision for Alternative Development [VALD], and NGO, convinced that Tobacco has done more harm than good to both smokers and non-smokers, has demanded that government takes a number of measures, including increase tax on tobacco, to make Ghana an unpleasant market for tobacco trade. The NGO believes that government would be saving more money as against the returns it makes from tobacco companies if it protected its citizens from exposing themselves to the harmful effects tobacco. “Our health facilities are already overstretched. How many specialized units do we have at Korle-Bu? How is government going to come up with money to take care of diseases that result from tobacco smoking?” asks Issah Ali, Executive Director of VALD. VALD is thus asking for a hundred percent ban on Tobacco smoking in public places even as it calls for the passage of Tobacco Control Bill that has been pending since 2005 into law.

Issah Ali refuted the notion that smokers could be allotted designated places where they could smoke. In his view, there is no guarantee whatever that the smoke, the movement of which cannot be controlled, would not ultimately reach non-smokers. “As there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke, we are recommending a 100% ban on smoking in public places. Kenya, Zambia and other countries have banned smoking. Public smoking in Abuja is illegal. Designating areas for smokers does not protect non-smokers.” In the Western World, governments have and continue to tighten control measures so that Tobacco companies are finding it increasingly less conducive to do business in those countries. Naturally therefore, such companies would be looking for jurisdictions that have loose regulations to stay and expand their frontiers. And Issah Ali believes that the Tobacco companies are finding Africa a safe haven in that regard. For example, he argued, some of the companies are putting up production plants in Senegal and elsewhere in Africa to serve as a strong manufacturing base in the supply of the drug.

Meanwhile, there is in place, in the international arena, a Framework Convention on Tobacco Control [FCTC] which was negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization and unanimously approved by member states of the World Health Assembly. Ghana, as usual, is one of the 164 countries that are party to the convention. “Ghana is among the first forty countries which supported the entry into force of the FCTC.” The objective of the convention is to “protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption.” It is on the back of the afore-mentioned that VALD is urging the government of Ghana to expedite action on the passage into law of the Tobacco Control Bill to give effective provisions of the framework convention. Article 4 of the convention demands of Ghana that “every person should be informed of the health consequences, addictive nature, and mortal threat posed by tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke and effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures should be contemplated at the appropriate governmental level to protect all persons from exposure to tobacco smoke.” To strengthen implementation of the law if passed, VALD proposes that government establishes a Tobacco Control Council, comprising relevant agencies and civil society groups to advice the health minister and other relevant agencies in the enforcement of the Tobacco Control Act.

Another worrying phenomenon that VALD wants government to be wary of is the attempt by tobacco companies to maneuver their way into the good books of legislator as it alleged to have happened in Kenya. Before Kenyan parliamentarians debated the bill on tobacco control, a tobacco company is alleged to have carter some of them away into a hotel where they were to believed to have been bribed so that “upon their retune from the sponsored holiday, interesting proposals were made towards weakening the bill.” “We are not saying it is happening in Ghana. But we know the possibility is there,” says Issah Ali. Issah Ali thus urged government and the Association of Ghana Industries to stop dealing with tobacco companies. “The health effects of tobacco are circumstances, mechanisms and factors of tobacco consumption on human health. Epidemiological research has been focused primarily on tobacco smoking, which has been studied more extensively than any other form of consumption. As of 2000, smoking is practice by some 1.22 billion people, of which men are likely to smoke than women, however the gender gap decline with age, poor more likely than rich, and people of developing countries more than those of developed countries. Fresh tobacco processed tobacco, and tobacco smoke contain carcinogens. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, Acrolein, and Nitrosamines are created during pyrolysis. These compounds are DNA adducts which induces mutation during DNA copying.

Tobacco use leads most commonly to diseases affecting the heart and lungs, with smoking being a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], emphysema, and cancer. As of 2000, smoking is practiced by 1.22 billion people. Assuming no change in prevalence it is predicted that 1.45 billion people will smoke in 2010 and 1.5 to 1.9 billion in 2025. Assuming that prevalence will decrease at 1% a year and that there will be a modest increase of income of 2%, it is predicted the number of smokers will stand at 1.3 billion 2010 and 2025. Smoking is generally five times higher among men than women; however the gender gap has begins to decline with younger age.

As of 2002 in China 67% of men smoke as to 4% of women, however among teens the gap closes to 33% among men as to 8% with women. In developed countries smoking rates for men have peaked and have begun to decline, however for women they continue to climb. As of 2002, about twenty percent of young teens [13 – 15] smoke worldwide. From which 80,000 to 10,000 children begin to smoking every day, of which roughly half of which live in Asia. Half of those who begin smoking in adolescent years go on to smoke for 15 to 20 years. Much of the disease burden and premature mortality attributable to tobacco use disproportionately affect the poor.” Of the 1.22 billion smokers, 1 billion of them live in developing or transitional economies. Rates of smoking have leveled off or declined in the developed world, from which the United States have dropped by half from 1965 to 2006 falling from 42% to 20.8% in adult.
However, up to 30% of men are former smokers in developing countries, only 2% of men in China have quit, and 10% in Vietnam. In the developing world, however, tobacco consumption is rising by 3.4% per year as of 2002. The WHO in 2004 projected 58.8 million deaths to occur globally, from which 5.4 million are tobacco-attributed, and 4.9 million as of 2007. As of 2002, 70% of the deaths are developing countries “. Wikipidia.com

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Pass ‘Tobacco Control Bill’

Pass ‘Tobacco Control Bill’
Daily Graphic
1 June, 2009
Story by: Musah Yahaya Jafaru

THE Executive Director of the Vision for Alternative Development, Mr. Issah Ali, has appealed to the government to pass the Tobacco Bill into law. That, he said, was the only way the government could protect Ghanaians against contracting diseases related to tobacco smoking.

Mr. Ali, who made the call at a press conference in Accra last Thursday, said it had been established by the Narcotics Control Board that cigarette use was the gateway to the use of hard drugs such as Indian hemp and cocaine. “Ghana is struggling to address diseases and health issues such as malaria, tuberculosis [TB] and HIV/AIDS and our health facilities are overstretched and as such cannot cope with diseases and cancers caused by tobacco use.” Mr. Ali asked the Minister of Health to “ensure that the Tobacco Control Bill is presented to Parliament as a matter of urgency”.

He said civil society group with the support of their allies would support the government in the implementation and enforcement of the Bill when passed into law. The Bill calls for labeling of tobacco products, he noted, and said his outfit had advocated a plain package for all tobacco products. He said picture warnings would keep a high population in the country aware of the dangers of tobacco use. When passed into law, he said, the Act would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to persons under 18 years and persons under the same age would not sell tobacco products.

Besides, he said, the Act would prohibit the sale of tobacco products in health and educational institutions, theaters, sports stadia and other places dominated by the youth.

Mr. Ali urged the government to increase tobacco tax in line with Article six of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control [FCTC].

Thursday, June 11, 2009

NGO urges early passage of Tobacco Control Bill

NGO urges early passage of Tobacco Control Bill Ghanaian Times
29th June 2009
By Patrick Baidoo

THE Executive Director of Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), Mr. Issah Ali, has urged government to facilitate the passage of “Tobacco Control Bill (TCB)” into law.
He said government’s inability to pass was the major reason why much young person smoke at public places exposing non smokers to tobacco related diseases.
Addressing the Media Alliance in Tobacco Control (MATCO), a network of journalists against tobacco use during a press conference in Accra yesterday, he said that when passed, the Tobacco Act would provide the framework for effective tobacco control and help reduce tobacco related disease and deaths. “Scientifically it has been proven that tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke cause lung cancer, heart and respiratory diseases, stroke and other fatal ailments,” the Executive Director said.
He said that the Tobacco Act had become more crucial now because tobacco companies in their own countries had targeted developing countries like Ghana as a safe haven for their products to the detriment of the nations human resource quality.
“Ghana is struggling to address health issues such as malaria, tuberculoses, HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality while our health facilities are over stretched and as such can not cope with additional heart diseases and cancers; hence, the Tobacco Law,” he said.
Mr. Ali said that since there can be no safe haven for non-smokers in the country VALD was recommending a 100 per cent ban on smoking in all public places.
“Kenya, Zambia and other countries have banned public smoking. Public smoking in Abuja is illegal and even designating special places for smokers cannot protect non-smokers” he said.
He further said that the bill, when passed, will be in accordance with the International Framework Convention on Tobacco Control [FCTC] provision which prohibits advertisement and promotion of tobacco products and donation, sponsorship and advertisement of tobacco firms and their products.
The Executive Director of VALD also called on government to increase tobacco tax as a means of making the product expensive and unattractive for the youth to patronize. Besides this, he said, it was also important for tobacco products to be labeled clearly for persons to see the health implication.
“The bill calls for the labeling of tobacco products and such we are recommending a plain package for all tobacco product and safe of single cigarette sticks to be banned.
“The picture warning would make a high percentage of the population aware of the dangers tobacco usage,” he said.

‘We’ll Demonstrate If…’

‘We’ll Demonstrate If…’
Daily Guide
29th June 2009
By Nathaniel Y. Yankson

THE EXECUTIVE Director of Vision for Alternative Development [VALD], Ghana, Issah Ali has stated that the group would embark on a massive protest should the government and legislature delay in enacting the country’s Tobacco Control Bill into the law.

When passed, it would ban smoking in public places in accordance with Article 8 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control [FCTC]. It would as well prohibit the sale of tobacco products in health and educational institutions, theatres, stadiums and other social environments.

Addressing the media in Accra on Thursday, Mr. Ali indicated that since no minister, Member of Parliament or any influential person in society would allow their relatives to risks their lives via tobacco smoking, it is prudent also on their part to secure the lives of others by lobbying for the passage of the bill.
He said though the draft bill has been ready since 2005, no one or group of persons has urged to pushed it for the consideration of parliament, hence his outfit and other civil society group’s struggle to make it happen.
According to him, they attempted similar action in 2003 when Ghana took a snail’s pace to ratify the FCTC, a treaty which was negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization [WHO] and unanimously approved by the Member of States of the World Health Assembly [WHA].
Ghana signed the Convention in 2003 and became the 39th country to have ratified it in 2004.
As enshrined in Article 3, the Convention aims to “protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke by providing a framework for tobacco control measures to be implemented by parties at the national, regional and international levels in order to reduce continually and substantially the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.
Ghana, however, he continued is obligated under Article 4 of the health consequences, addictive nature and mortal threat posed by tobacco consumption.

In addition, laws on a person’s exposure to tobacco smoke should be contemplated at the appropriate governmental levels in order to protect all persons from the dangers involved.
Besides killing its users, tobacco consumption causes heart and lung diseases as well as cancers. “Tobacco kills close to five million people annually and it is projected to kill over 10million smokers and passive smokers by 2030. Seventy per cent of death will emerge in developing countries including Ghana, if effective tobacco control measures are not initiated and enforced effectively”, he disclosed.
Meanwhile VALD recommended that government increase the tax on tobacco products from it current status to 100 percent as stipulated in Article 6 of the treaty.

It called on the Associated of Ghana Industries (AGI) to also expel the British America Tobacco Ghana from its membership since it is promoting death, destruction and disability among the people of the country.
“A national tobacco council, comprising relevant government agencies and civil society groups must be established to advise the Health Minister and other relevant agencies in the enforcement of Tobacco Control Act”, the organization added.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

NGO calls for 100% tax increase on tobacco products

The Ghanaian Chronicle

By Naa Bettey Nelson

Friday, May 29, 2009
http://www.ghanaian-chronicle.com/thestory.asp?id=12141&title=NGO%20calls%20for%20100%%20tax%20increase%20on%20tobacco%20products
www.valdgh.blogspot.com

Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has advised government to make an 100% tax increase in the prices of tobacco products in the country, to make the product unattractive and expensive for children.

The organization said the tobacco industry claimed that high cigarette taxes encouraged smuggling from low tax jurisdiction. Briefing the media in Accra yesterday, the Executive Director (of VALD), Mr. Issah Ali, urged the government to pass the tobacco bill into law, to protect present and future generations from hazardous effects of tobacco use.

He said the bill, when passed, would ban smoking in Public places in Ghana, in accordance with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 8, which encourages parties to “recognize that scientific evidence has unequivocally established that exposure to tobacco smoke causes death, disease and disability.”

He pointed out that VALD was established to promote alternative initiatives and support development at all levels of the society which included advocacy and sensitization on tobacco control and health issues, and supporting community participation in governance.

He pointed that the bill would prohibit the sale of tobacco products in health and educational institutions and places with significant portion of youth clientele.
He explained that tobacco kills close to 5 million people annually and it is projected to kill over10 million smokers and passive smokers by 2030.

He said 70% of death would emerge in developing countries including Ghana, if effective tobacco control measures are not initiated and enforced effectively.

Mr. Issah Ali said that non-smokers exposed to second hand smoke at home or at work increase their heart disease risk by 25-30% and lung cancer risk by at least 20-30%.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Speed up passage of the Tobacco Bill - Anti-tobacco group

Speed up passage of the Tobacco Bill - Anti-tobacco group
Ghana News Agency (GNA)
May 28, 2009
www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=162838
www.valdgh.blogspot.com

Accra, May 28, GNA - Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), a civil society group, on Thursday called for the establishment of a National Tobacco Control Council to ensure the swift passage of the Tobacco Bill into law. Briefing the media in Accra Mr Issah Ali, Executive Director of VALD, said members of the council, which should comprise relevant government agencies and civil society groups, would be expected to advise the Health Minister and other relevant agencies in the enforcement of the Tobacco Act. The bill, which has been in a draft form since 2005, when passed into law, will among other things, ban smoking in public places and prohibit the sale of tobacco products in health and educational institutions, theatres and sports stadiums. The bill in accordance with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) will prohibit advertisements and promotion of tobacco products and sale of tobacco products to persons under-18 years of age. Mr Ali said there was no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke and recommended a total ban on smoking in all public places since the current directive was specific in certain public places. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there were 1.3 billion smokers worldwide with 4.9 million people dying each year before their 50th birthday. He said it was unfortunate that smoking and death had reduced in the developed world where this aspect of social vice originated from but had risen in poorer countries where women and young children were the most affected. He said tobacco companies had redirected their attention from the developed countries to the developing countries, including Ghana, with their business through sponsorship and advertisement and urged government to act swiftly to avoid the damage their actions might cause to the people. "Governments and other agencies are urged not to have any dealing with the tobacco industry as stated in the FCTC Article 5.3 and, if any, such interactions should be made public to ensure the effective implementation of the Tobacco Control Act," he added. Mr Ali called on the government to increase tobacco tax in line with the Article 6 of FCTC to make the product unattractive and expensive for children to buy and recommended a 100 per cent tax increase in the price of tobacco products. Tobacco smoking causes a lot of harm to the health of people and its use is a major cause of over 20 major categories of fatal, disabling diseases and preventable deaths leading to cancers, heart attacks and respiratory diseases. A stick of cigarette contains over 4,000 chemicals which when inhaled could result in cardiovascular diseases, cancer of the kidney, lung, breast, pancreas, peptic, bladder, bronchitis and emphysema among others and puffing a stick is like puffing a whole packet of it. "If government is seriously interested in fighting the use of hard drugs, then, passage of the tobacco control bill is the first step. It has been established by the Narcotics Control Board that cigarette use is the gateway to the use of hard drugs such as Indian hemp, cocaine and heroin," Mr Ali concluded. 28 May 09

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Pass Tobacco Bill – Ali

Pass Tobacco Bill – Ali
Ghana News Agency (GNA)
18 May 2009
www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=162289&comment=4757530#com

Accra, May 18, GNA - Mr. Issah Ali, Executive Director of the Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), a development-oriented, non-governmental organization (NGO), has urged government to ensure the passage of the Tobacco Control Bill (TCB) without delay. This, he said, could go a long way to clamp down on illicit trade on tobacco products to help reduce smoking-related diseases among Ghanaians.

Mr. Ali who disclosed these to GNA in Accra at the weekend, suggested that the draft be put before Parliament without any further delay.

The Executive Director, who is also a Board Member of the African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA), said the Organization had sensitized stakeholders on the tobacco industry, and supported the strengthening of the coalition of NGOs on health.

On the international scene, Mr. Ali said VALD had advocated for a strong guideline on the packaging and labeling of tobacco products for easy identification of the harm tobacco causes to health. He lamented that the NGO lacked funding and said that it was planning to set up a network of journalists to sensitize the public on the dangers of tobacco products.

Mr Ali said a forum would soon be held for religious organizations, apart from a national stakeholders' consultative and strategic meeting, to address tobacco-related problems facing the country. He said that the NGO would work hard to ensure that tobacco control was on the national agenda to help solicit funds from the donor community.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

PREZ MILLS URGED TO PASS DRAFT TOBACCO CONTROL BILL

The New Crusading Guide
March 2009
By Anna Claudia Duker

The Executive Director of Vision for Alternative Development [VALD], Mr. Issah Ali has urged President John Evans Atta Mills to strongly recommend to his office to facilitate the process of presenting the Draft National Tobacco Control Bill to Parliament for passage into law, in order to help protect the health of the children, pregnant women and vulnerable groups in the country.
He mentioned that, Ghana approved the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control [FCTC], an international tobacco control treaty on November 29 2004 with an objective to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.
Mr. Ali also disclosed that the Draft National Tobacco Control Bill was developed to bring under control the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control but unfortunately the draft bill was yet to be approved by Cabinet and presented to the Parliament for debate and approval.
He noted that tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke kills close to five million people every year according to the World Health Organisation [WHO], saying that the figure was projected to increase to 10 million deaths annually by 2030 and 70 percent from developing countries including Ghana if tobacco control measures were not adopted.
He added that tobacco harmed public health as it had, scientifically been linked to dreadful diseases such as cancer, heart diseases and asthma. The Executive Director also emphasized that tobacco had been linked to psychosocial disorder, miscarriage, and infertility in women and men.
He continued that tobacco was risk factor for low birth weight and mental retardation among children. The VALD congratulated President Mills on the occasion of his election as the President of the Republic of Ghana and Dr. George Sipa-Adja Yanker for being sworn-in as the Minister of Health. ‘We are highly optimistic that your government would work extensively to improve the health and to alleviate poverty in accordance with the provisions of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.” He Stated.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Pass Tobacco Control Bill

Pass Tobacco Control Bill
(March 16th, 2009)
http://www.ghanaweb.com/public_agenda/article.php?ID=12952

Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), an NGO, has appealed to President Atta Mills to ensure the passage of the Tobacco Control Bill into law "to protect the health of children, pregnant women and vulnerable groups in the country."`

Whilst congratulating the President on his electoral victory, the NGO says he must use his good offices to ensure the bill is laid before Parliament for deliberation and passage.The appeal is also to the new Minister of Health, Dr. Geaorge Sipa Yankey. "We are highly optimistic that your government would work extensively to improve the health and to alleviate poverty in accordance with the provisions of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)."

Ghana ratified the FCTC; international tobacco control treaty on 29th November 2004 with the objective to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke."

A Draft National Tobacco Control Bill was developed to domesticate the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, but the draft bill is yet to be approved by Cabinet and be presented to Parliament for debate and approval.

"Your Excellency, we strongly recommend your office to facilitate the process and present the Draft National Tobacco Control Bill to Parliament for passage into law to protect the health of the children, pregnant women and vulnerable groups in the country," Mr. Issah Ali (Board Member of African Tobacco Control Alliance - ATCA and Executive Director of Vision for Alternative Development - VALD) said.

Tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke are said to be in charge of the death of close to 5 million people every year according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The figure is projected to increase to 10 million deaths annually by 2030 and 70 per cent from developing countries, including Ghana if tobacco control measures are not adopted. Tobacco harms public health; it has scientifically been linked to dreadful diseases such as cancer, heart diseases and asthma.

Tobacco has also been linked to psychosocial disorder, miscarriage, and infertility. It is a risk factor for low birth weight and mental retardation among children.

The Formation of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs Against Tobacco (GCNT)


Tobacco Control Activism Amongst the Youth in Ghana