The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has officially launched this year’s World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) celebrations with a health screening and public sensitization exercise at the Ho Central Market in the Volta Region. The event marks the start of a five-day campaign aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and reducing its prevalence across Ghana.
WNTD, commemorated globally on May 31 each year, serves as a platform to expose the health risks of tobacco use and to highlight efforts being made to protect current and future generations from its harms. This year’s theme, “Unmask the Appeal,” focuses on revealing the manipulative tactics used by the tobacco and nicotine industry, especially in targeting the youth.
Speaking at the sidelines of the event, Dr. Olivia Boateng, Director of the Tobacco and Substances of Abuse Directorate at the FDA, emphasized the purpose of the outreach and the importance of public education.
“The FDA is organizing this medical outreach to sensitize the public about the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine products as well as to ensure the general well-being of the public,” she stated.
Explaining the choice of venue, she said, “We brought it to the market because today is a market day, and so we will get a lot of patronage and you can really see that we have a lot of patronage.”
Dr. Boateng added that the screening included education and counseling on a range of lifestyle diseases that tobacco can exacerbate.
“Aside from counseling on general lifestyle diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and other noncommunicable diseases which tobacco triggers, the public would also be educated on the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine products, and other substances of abuse like ‘Red’. So we are here to take care of a complete package; their health,” she said.
Dr. Ruby Biako, representing the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, expressed strong support for the initiative and outlined her organization’s role in the exercise.
“We are very excited to partner with the FDA for this year’s World No Tobacco Day. We have brought in pharmacists to support the health screening, and we’ve also made medicines available to offer first aid where necessary,” she said.
She further elaborated on the health risks associated with the misuse of medication, “Noncommunicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes are on the rise, and many people don’t even know they have these conditions until complications develop. We’re also educating the public on the misuse of prescription medicines; people are using drugs meant for serious conditions recklessly, and that’s creating more problems. As pharmacists, we believe this collaboration with the FDA is essential.”
Highlighting the strategic choice of the Volta Region for this year’s campaign, Mr. Gordon Akurugu, Volta Regional Head of the FDA, cited the region’s vulnerability due to unapproved entry points.
“The Volta Region was strategically chosen because it has the highest number of unapproved routes in the country. There’s a risk that unregistered tobacco products may enter the country through here,” he explained.
He added, “This program is organized to let people know that smuggling through unapproved borders is illegal. You can not import medicines or tobacco through inland borders. Regulation involves three pillars — the consumer, the manufacturer/importer, and the regulator. We have done our part. Now, it’s up to the consumer to decide, and that is why we’re focusing on education. This region, in particular, has seen a lot of product detentions at our borders, and we now work 24 hours to control the inflow.”
Also addressing participants, Madam Cynthia Adinyira, Health Promotion Officer at the Ho Market Clinic, focused on the specific health dangers associated with tobacco use.
“Tobacco is very dangerous. It affects the organs, and depending on which organ it targets, it can cause serious damage. If it affects the eyes, vision is impaired; if it affects the brain, it disrupts our thinking and memory and we all know how vital the brain is” she explained.
She added, “Tobacco can destroy fats, affect the skin, and damage vital organs. We are here to create awareness and counsel people, especially those who smoke or are considering it, so they understand the risks involved.”
The FDA’s multi-faceted approach to this year’s WNTD celebration in Ho demonstrates the urgency of tobacco control and the need for collaborative community action. With strong partnerships, focused outreach, and education, the campaign aims to curb tobacco use and promote a healthier, smoke-free society.
As Ghana joins the world in commemorating World No Tobacco Day, the FDA is urging the public to remain vigilant, reject deceptive marketing from the tobacco industry, and work collectively to Unmask the Appeal of tobacco and nicotine products.
