The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has warned that the surge in tobacco and illicit drug use among students poses a grave threat to the nation’s future and is urging the government to implement tougher laws to combat the menace.
Mrs. Francisca Patoah Gyarko, Principal Regulatory Officer of the FDA in the Bono Region, said smoking and drug use among school children is becoming widespread and requires immediate attention through strong regulatory action.
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Speaking to Sky News at Odumaseman Senior High School in the Sunyani West Municipality, she said, “Tobacco use is a growing epidemic. The youth are falling victim to the deceptive tactics of the tobacco industry. We need stricter laws to protect them.”
The interaction formed part of this year’s World No Tobacco Day sensitisation programme, held in partnership with the Ghana Health Service and the Narcotics Control Commission. The global theme was “Unmasking the appeal, exposing industry tactics on tobacco and nicotine products.”
Mrs. Gyarko said tobacco companies continue to target children with colourful packaging and misleading advertisements, making it necessary for Ghana to tighten regulations on marketing, sales and packaging of tobacco products.
She described smoking as a major health hazard responsible for millions of deaths globally and called on government to take bold policy steps to reverse the trend among Ghanaian youth. Mrs. Akua Amponsaa Owusu, Bono Regional Head of the FDA, in a speech read on her behalf, said the country must not underestimate the scale of the danger.
“Attractive packaging is hiding deadly chemicals. These substances destroy the lungs and increase the risk of cancer and other deadly diseases,” she warned. Ama Gyankoma Asirifi, a Health Promotion Officer with the Bono Regional Health Directorate, also urged students to reject smoking and drug use, explaining that tobacco contains over 100 harmful substances.
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