Gov´ts urged to hold tobacco companies accountable

The Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), a non-governmental organisation, has joined advocates from Africa, the United Kingdom and Latin America to call on governments to hold the British American Tobacco (BAT) accountable.

The advocates claim that the BAT had made profit from generations of addiction to tobacco around the world and, therefore, their governments should demand accountability from the tobacco industry.

The call comes as BAT convenes its annual general meeting in London.

Mr Labram Musah, the Programmes Director of VALD, in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, said at least it was undoubtedly clear that delays in adopting Tobacco Control laws was largely due to industry interference in public health policies.

The VALD called on Ghana Government and the world over to stand firm and resolute in the midst of tobacco industry interference and formulate lifesaving legislation that would protect present and future generations from the devastating effects of tobacco use and tobacco smoke.

“While BAT’s executives toast to deadly profits and generations of addiction, people and governments around the world are organising to hold them accountable for their abuses,” Mr John Stewart, the Deputy Director at the Corporate Accountability International, has said.