By Albert Allotey, GNA
Accra, Dec. 24, GNA – The Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development Ghana (VAST Ghana), a dedicated public health advocacy organization, says vaping is a serious harm to health and must be rejected by health authorities.
It said the tobacco industry endorsement of vape as tobacco harm reduction was false.
A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency by Mr Labram Musah, the Executive Director of VAST-Ghana condemned tobacco industry attempts to formalise youth vaping in Ghana through some media online outlets.
The statement said, “No matter how glamorous tobacco products are dressed up and marketed by the tobacco industry, harm is still harm.”
It stated that tobacco and nicotine products like shisha, hookah, and vapes raise respiratory issues, heart diseases, and cancers, “Yet the industry keeps coming for the future leaders, glamorizing addiction, exploiting their vulnerabilities, and using their favourite influencers to pull them in.”
“Let’s be real, the tobacco industry does not care about the youth. They do not see their ambitions, struggles, or the unique strength they bring to the world, to them, the youth are just potential customers, lured into a cycle of addiction with products that steal their glow,” the statement said.
It called on the government, the Ministry of Health, the Food and Drugs Authority, the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, civil society organizations, parents, guardians, teachers, traditional leaders, and everyone to step up their intervention to protect the youth.
“Let us come together to unmask the tobacco industry’s tricks and peel back the lies that have endangered so many young people. We should not sacrifice the health and dreams of our youth for the tobacco industry selfish gains.
“Let’s stand together, hand in hand, and demand protection from an industry that preys on the dreams of the youth. Le’s fight a future where young people can thrive, free from tobacco industry’s grips, and save them,” the statement added.
GNA
Christian Akorlie