Sunyani residents kick against cigarrette importation

Some Sunyani residents are calling for a total ban on importation of cigarette as a

measure to discourage smoking in the country.

As the world celebrated World No Tobacco Day on Tuesday, May 31, World Health

Organization statistics indicate tobacco use is the second cause of death globally

(after hypertension) and is currently responsible for killing one in 10 adults

worldwide.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco

Control”

The Sunyani Municipal Health Director, Dr. David Opare and other health

professionals have been advocating the immediate the passage of the Tobacco Control

Bill into law.

Studies by the Ghana Health Service reveals about nine percent of Junior High School

students in Ghana smoke while 28 per cent of children are also exposed to tobacco.

The World No Tobacco Day highlights the health risks associated with tobacco use and

advocating for effective policies to reduce consumption.

The World Health Assembly created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global

attention to the tobacco epidemic and its lethal effects.

It provides an opportunity to highlight specific tobacco control messages and to

promote adherence to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Space FM’s Health reporter, Mavis Ankamah Quaye sums up her experience in the line

of duty as “tobacco use is the number one preventable epidemic that the health

community faces”.

Miss Mary Sunkwa Logo, an accountant with the Sunyani Education Unit of the

Methodist Doicese, told Space FM that government must put in place strict measures

to check the sale and usage of tobacco since it is seriously affecting the health of

the youth of the country.

Rev. Collins Tettey, the National Outreach Director of the Living Grace Ministries,

pointed out that until drastic measures are implemented, tobacco use may destroy a

greater portion of our human resources needed for national development.

He urged the churches to map out programmes to discourage the youth from patronising

the substance.

The Chief Executive of Ideas Travel and General Services, Mr. Christian Asante

Kontor, noted that government should use the world no tobacco day to discourage the

youth from smoking.