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%.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
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
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.
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.
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.
(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.
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