By Albert Allotey, GNA
Accra, March 14, GNA – A comprehensive 2026 shadow report by civil society organisations (CSOs) led by the Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Ghana (VAST-Ghana) has revealed gaps in the implementation of the WHO Framework Coventon on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
A statement signed by Mr Labram Musah, the Executive Director of VAST-Ghana and copied to the Ghana News Agency said one of the most pressing concerns highlighted in the report was the continued risk of tobacco industry interference in public health policymaking.
It stated that, “While Ghana has established a Tobacco Control Interagency Coordinating Committee and a five-year National Tobacco Control Strategy, there is no publicly accessible government repository detailing the activities, lobbying efforts, or interactions of the tobacco industry with public officials.”
It added that meetings between government entities and tobacco industry have historically been conducted without public notice or subsequent disclosure of outcomes, a direct violation of Article 5.3 of the FCTC, which exists precisely to shield public health policy from industry manipulation.
The report calls for the urgent creation of a transparent, publicly accessible registry of all such interactions, a comprehensive code of conduct for public officials, and mandatory awareness campaigns on Article 5.3 guidelines.
The statement said the shadow report, prepared independently by civil society, served as a complementary voice, one grounded in community observation, field evidence, and the lived experiences of those most affected by tobacco use.
It explained that Its purpose was not to undermine government efforts, but to enrich the national conversation by offering an independent, evidence-based assessment of where implementation is working, where gaps remain, and where stronger action is needed.
The statement said every year, Ghana submits an official progress report to the WHO Conference of Parties on its FCTC implementation, “however 2026 paints a picture of a country with the right laws on paper, but gaps in translating those laws, regulations and policies into action.”
On the economic front, it said tobacco taxation has been a key strategy in Ghana’s tobacco control efforts, but challenges remained in achieving optimal tax levels.
“Ghana took a significant step forward in strengthening tobacco taxation by passing the Excise Duty (Amendment) (no. 2) Act, 2023 (Act 1108), where evidence show that revenue from excise taxes on tobacco products have doubled in its first year of implementation and aligned partially with ECOWAS protocols,” the statement pointed out.
It said the reform changed the excise tax structure from pure ad valorem to a hybrid system (ad valorem and specific) and that the legislation introduced a specific tax rate of 28 pesewas per stick of cigarettes but sadly reduced the ad valorem tax rate significantly from 175 per cent to 50 per cent.
The statement noted that the specific tax rates were also not adjusted for inflation, meaning tobacco products will gradually become more affordable over time.
The report also flags a striking legal contradiction: the government imposes excise taxation on electronic cigarettes while simultaneously banning them under the Public Health Act 2012, it stated.
It called for upward review of the tax rates, legislation to remove the tax rates on electronic cigarettes, automatic inflation indexing, and the closure of duty-free tobacco import loopholes that undermine domestic control efforts.
The statement said second-hand smoke remained a public health concern in Ghana due to weak enforcement of existing laws, stressing that although the Public Health Act 2012 prohibits smoking in public places, compliance monitoring remained inconsistent.
“Violations are common in hospitality and entertainment venues where smoking is often permitted, exposing workers and patrons to harmful tobacco smoke,” it noted.
The report recommended a move towards a 100 per cent smoke-free policy, strict enforcement of smoke-free laws and stronger monitoring systems across all indoor public spaces, workplaces, and public transport, backed by adequate funding and accessible public reporting mechanisms.
The statement said Ghana has made progress in implementing pictorial health warnings on tobacco products however, the emergence and increasing use of products such as shisha have exposed regulatory gaps that required urgent attention.
“Shisha products often carry warnings only on outer packaging, allowing retailers to remove them entirely and bypass the legal requirement,” it observed.
The report recommends mandating pictorial health warnings on all layers of shisha product packaging, including cessation resources on all tobacco products, and implementing plain packaging in line with international best practices.
The statement said Ghana was also being encouraged to advance towards the adoption of standardized plain packaging for tobacco products, a measure that removes all branding, logos, and promotional design from cigarette packs, replacing them with uniform colour schemes and enlarged health warnings, to follow the path of Mauritius and Cote d’Ivoire.
It said the report called for dedicated regulatory units to monitor online tobacco promotion, specific legislation to address entertainment media and influencer promotion, and strengthened international cooperation on cross-border advertising.
The VAST Ghana urged the government to develop and implement a dedicated, year-round awareness campaign strategy to equip policymakers with the requisite skills to understand and avoid interferences and tactics employed by the tobacco industry to undermine public health efforts.
The report has called for review and revision of the 2017 cessation guidelines to align with WHO guidance on cessation services, global best practices and local realities, followed by their immediate operationalization.
The VAST-Ghana urged the Government, Parliament, the Food and Drugs Authority, and all relevant ministries to treat the findings not as criticism, but as a roadmap while calling on the media to amplify these issues.
“The critical link between tobacco use and the escalating burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Ghana demands urgent attention,” it said.
“Tobacco consumption is a leading risk factor for major NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, various cancers, chronic respiratory conditions, and diabetes, significantly contributing to morbidity and mortality and placing immense strain on the national healthcare system,” it added.
The VAST-Ghana called on the international partners and the WHO to support Ghana in bridging the gap between its commitments and its conduct.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade