By Albert Allotey
Accra, June 10, GNA – Mr Labram Musah, the Executive Director of Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Ghana (VAST-Ghana) has received the WHO World No Tobacco Award 2025 for working tirelessly to advance tobacco control and public health in Ghana.
Mr Musah received the recognition at the commemoration of the Day held in Ho on the theme, “”Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products.”
This was in a statement issued by VAST-Ghana and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
It said Mr Musah in his acceptance speech said, “This recognition is not merely a personal achievement – it is a shared milestone for all who have worked tirelessly to advance tobacco control and public health in Ghana, across Africa, and around the world.”
“This award also belongs to the courageous civil society organizations, public health champions, youth advocates, researchers/academic institutions, journalists, and community leaders who have stood with us – both in the quiet persistence of policy engagement and the bold resistance against industry interference. I salute your dedication and solidarity,” he stated.
He expressed gratitude to God for how far He has brought him and many things He continues to do for him and other people around him while acknowledging the WHO Country representative in Ghana.
He thanked all individuals, institutions and his family for their diverse support and contributions towards the vision of VAST-Ghana.
Mr Musah mentioned some of the accomplishment of his organisation, which advocated for the passage and implementation of Ghana’s Tobacco Control Measures and Regulations in 2012 and 2016, respectively.
It pushed for increased taxes on harmful tobacco products, and engaging in global platforms, such as the recent Multistakeholder Hearing on NCDs and Mental Health at the United Nations, to amplify African voices and secure stronger commitments for healthier societies.
He said, “Yet we are acutely aware that our work is far from complete. The tobacco industry continues to adapt – using flavoured products, deceptive marketing, and digital platforms to target our youth and vulnerable populations. The fight continues, and we must meet it with renewed resolve.”
The Executive Director said the award served as a call to action by government to accelerate the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and raise taxes on tobacco to discourage consumption.
Government must protect children from aggressive and misleading marketing of the tobacco industry, enforce stronger laws, and hold the industry accountable for the harm it causes while champion equity, prioritize community voices, and build lasting political will that goes beyond election cycles.
“Let us continue this journey, inspired, united, and resolute to create a tobacco-free future for Ghana, for Africa, and for the world,” he stated.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade