What is World No Tobacco Day?
The World Health Organization (WHO) and its global partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) every year on May 31st. The annual campaign is an opportunity to raise awareness about the dangerous and lethal effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure, as well as to discourage tobacco use in any form.
What is the theme for the 2025 ‘World No Tobacco-Day’?
The theme for this year’s World No Tobacco Day is “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products.” This year’s campaign will focus on showcasing strategies used by the tobacco and nicotine industries to make their harmful products appear appealing especially to young people.
What is the goal of this campaign?
The goal is to raise awareness of the risks associated with tobacco and nicotine use. It is also to inform the public on how the tobacco and nicotine industries manipulate the appearance and appeal of tobacco and nicotine products to attract and retain consumers. These tactics undermine public health efforts and target vulnerable populations, particularly the youth.
By exposing these tactics, the campaign will shed light on how the industry masks the addictive effects of nicotine, enhancing efforts to reduce demand and promoting long-term public health.
What are some common tactics used by the industry to promote the appeal of tobacco and nicotine products?
Some key tactics include:
- Flavouring and additives: enhancing taste and masking the harshness of tobacco to increase its appeal.
- Targeted marketing: using sleek designs, attractive packaging, and digital media campaigns to glamorize harmful products and
- Deceptive product design: creating products that resemble sweets or toys, appealing directly to children and adolescents.
These tactics can contribute to early initiation of smoking or nicotine use, which may lead to lifelong addiction and health consequences. By making these products more attractive, the industry not only boosts their immediate consumer base but also makes quitting harder, prolonging exposure to harmful products.
How can we unmask the appeal of these products?
We can unmask the appeal of these products by implementing strict tobacco control measures, such as:
- Raise awareness: Inform the public on how industry tactics manipulate the appearance and appeal of tobacco and nicotine products.
- Advocate for policy change:
- Advocate for measures to ban flavours and additives that make these products more appealing;
- Complete bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, including on digital platforms; and
- Strict regulation of the design of the products and their packages to make them less attractive.
- Reduce demand: Exposing these tactics aims to reduce demand, particularly among youth, ultimately lowering their exposure to nicotine and tobacco products.
- Health Education Programs: Integrate comprehensive tobacco education into school curricula to increase awareness of children and the youth on the risks associated with tobacco use and to build their resistance to industry marketing tactics.
- Support for Tobacco Control Policies: Advocate for and support comprehensive tobacco control policies at local, national, and international levels to limit the influence and power of the tobacco industry.
- Youth Engagement and Empowerment: Empower young people to become advocates for tobacco control by involving them in advocacy campaigns, community initiatives, and policy-making processes.
- Monitoring and Enforcement: Monitor compliance with tobacco control laws and regulations, and enforce penalties for violations, including those related to sales to minors and illicit tobacco trade.
What are the Harmful effects using e-cigarettes and vapes?
- Lung Damage – Some vaping products contain harmful chemicals like diacetyl, which is linked to popcorn lung (bronchiolitis obliterans).
- Chronic Bronchitis – Vaping irritates the lungs, leading to coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath over time.
- Lung Infections – Vaping weakens the lungs’ defense against bacteria and viruses, increasing the risk of infections.
- Increased Heart Rate & Blood Pressure – Nicotine in vapes stimulates the heart, raising the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
- Addiction – Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive, especially for teens and young adults.
- Heavy Metals – Some vapes release lead, nickel, and chromium, which can be toxic when inhaled.
- Cancer-Causing Agents – Certain vape liquids contain formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein, which are carcinogens.
- Exploding Batteries – Defective vape batteries have caused severe burns and injuries.
- Nicotine Poisoning – Accidental ingestion of vape liquids, especially by children, can be fatal.
- Impaired brain development in young users
- Reproductive disturbances (infertility, deformed sperms)
- Higher likelihood of transitioning to other hard drugs
Are e-cigarettes and vapes safer than traditional cigarettes?
While some claim that e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, they still contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals and there is growing evidence of serious lung diseases linked to vaping.
Are e-cigarettes and vapes allowed to be used in Ghana?
The sale and advertisement of Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS), vapes and non–nicotine products are prohibited in Ghana
Ref:
The sale and advertisement of ENDS, vapes and non–nicotine products contravene Part Six and Sections 61 (2) and 62(1) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (ACT 851) as well as Regulation 16 of the Tobacco Control Regulations 2016, (L. I. 2247) as detailed below:
Section 61 (2): A person shall not sell, display for sale, supply, advertise a non-tobacco product or service that contains, either on the product, or in an advertisement of the product, a writing, a picture, an image, graphics, message, or other matter that is commonly identified or associated with or is likely or intended or associated with a tobacco product, brand or manufacturer.
Section 62 (1) (b): A person shall not package, label or offer for sale a product that looks like or is likely to be identified with or associated with tobacco or a tobacco product.
Regulation 16 (1): “A person shall not manufacture, import, export, supply, possess, or offer for sale an illicit tobacco or a tobacco product”.
Manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers are therefore cautioned to desist from the importation of illicit tobacco products into the country.
Failure to adhere to the above sections and/or the tobacco control laws constitutes an offence for which sanctions may be imposed including prosecution according to the Public Health Act, 2012 (ACT 851) Section 77.
- Section (77) A person who contravenes any of these provisions commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than seven hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than three years or to both.
In the case of a continuing offence, a further fine of ten penalty units for each day during which the offence continues.
- Administrative fine of GHS 25,000.00
How can someone join the fight against the tobacco epidemic?
- Celebrities and social influencers – Reject offers of “brand ambassadorship” and refuse any form of sponsorship by nicotine and tobacco industries.
- Social media companies – Should prohibit advertisements, promotion and sponsorship by the nicotine and tobacco industries and influence marketing of tobacco or nicotine products.
- Film, television, or drama production companies –Pledge not to depict tobacco use or e-cigarette use. But even if it is being used it should have anti-tobacco messages.
- Parents and relatives –Educate children and adolescents on the harmful effects of nicotine and tobacco product use. This will empower them to reject industry manipulation.
- Nurses and health practitioners – Provide children, adolescents, young adults, and their parents with updated information about the risks associated with these products and empower users to quit through brief cessation advice.
- Schools– Raise awareness of the dangers of initiating nicotine and tobacco product use, adopt tobacco and e-cigarette free campuses, refuse any form of sponsorship by the nicotine and tobacco industries, and prohibit representatives from nicotine and tobacco companies from speaking at school events, school camps, etc.
- Youth groups – Organize local events to engage and educate your peers and build a movement for a tobacco-free generation. Advocate for the adoption of effective tobacco control policies in your community to curb and prevent the manipulation of nicotine and tobacco industries
- National and local governments – Support the implementation of comprehensive tobacco control policies, as outlined in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This can help prevent industry evasion of tobacco control legislation and exploitation of regulatory loopholes, protect children and adolescents from industry manipulation and prevent younger generations from initiating nicotine and tobacco product use.
What activities have been planned for the year?
To commemorate WNTD 2025 in Ghana.
- A public awareness walk/float will be conducted along the main streets of Ho, featuring placards and posters displaying tobacco-related facts and cautionary messages. This event will culminate in a durbar attended by Chiefs and Sub-chiefs from the Ho Traditional Area.
- The FDA will carry out public educational programs in schools, markets, churches, transport terminals in Ho and throughout the regions in Ghana with FDA representation. Excerpts of these will also be featured on the media platforms.
- The FDA will host a launch in collaboration with other stakeholder agencies on Monday, 2nd June 2025 at Ho, Volta Region.
