Tobacco Control in Africa - TCA

Up in smoke? Global Tobacco Control Advocacy and local mobilization in Africa

Up in smoke? Global Tobacco Control Advocacy and local mobilization in Africa, is a paper by Amy S Patterson and Elizabeth Gil, published in Oxford's International Affairs. Unfortunately, only the abstract is accessible for free. To access it for 24 hour, would cost you $45! I doubt many of our readers can make such an investment. I was allowed to read it via a friend who had access. It is a discussion on how much the big donors (like Gates and Bloomberg) influence/control the type of advocacy organized locally and how they could be wrong. Comments from advocates would be interesting, if they were willing to comment. It's hard to compare countries. Here the focus is on Ghana, Rwanda and Tanzania. I'll leave at that for now. Time for Le grande Thanksgiving, le jour de merci donnant... thank you Art. Rereading this post in 2021 and looking for Amy Patterson, I find this opinion she wrote for the Washington Post for WNTD 2021. She seems to miss the fact there is no difference between Bloomberg/GF and WHO as they are the main funders of WHO.

Ghana to get pictorial warnings on cigarette packs from November 1

From November 1st, 2018, all tobacco products will bear pictorial warnings on both sides. This announcement was made by Ghana's Food and Drugs Authority C.E.O, Mrs. Delese Darko. The introduction of pictorial warnings on cigarette packs is in line with the fulfillment of section 10 of Ghana's Tobacco Control Regulations, 2016 (L. I. 2247) and also seeks to fulfill their obligation as a party to the  Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC).

New antitobacco film in Ghana, produced by the Gates Foundation

From Ghana Web, but without much details about the plot. It seems the SKY girls project started in Botswana with a Facebook account. More about it's beginning in 2014  in Botswana and to it's launch in Ghana in 2017, thanks to a search via Google. I found nothing about it's use in Uganda. It is apparently funded by the Gates Foundation but no information is available on the Foundation's site that remains with very little detailed content. Maybe the film could be available on line?

Ghana plans to ban shisha and e-cigs while taxes on cigarettes remain very low and there is no budget for enforcement

As reported in this post (from Vaping360.com) and this article. The assertion that e-cigs are more dangerous than combustibles goes counter to the position of Public Health in the UK. The details of the research conducted by the Ghana Health Service have not been released (that we know). At the same time there is apparently no budget to enforce the existing tobacco laws and the existing taxes are very low. The prevalence still appears relatively low compared to other countries,like its neighbors Ivory Coast, Togo, Burkina, see below the chart about CEDEAO

4 grants from the Bloomberg Initiative to Ghana, Togo and Uganda

Visiting the Bloomberg Initiative's site we discover 4 grants awarded in May, June and july 2014. All are provided to groups that were already regularly funded in Togo ($100,293), Ghana ($80K) and Uganda ($32K and $75K). See the details below.

Bloomberg Initiative 2014: 4 grants to DRC, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda.

The Bloomberg Initiative has funded 4 projects in Africa since the beginning of 2014, in DRC ($80K), Kenya ($60K), Uganda ($18K), Ghana ($20K) for a total of $178K. All are linked to support passing legislation or implementing existing regulations.

Bloomberg Initiative: recent grants awarded

The Bloomberg Initiative has recently awarded the following grants: 6 months support for the Ghana advocates ($100,463), one year media initiative in Kenya ($73,659), one year grant for advocacy support in Nigeria ($170,380) and the Nigeria Adult Tobacco Survey ($12,000), 3 months grant for advocacy support in Senegal ($31,241) for a grand total of a little less than $400,000. Applications for the next round end July 26.

Bloomberg's Initiative strategy in Africa in 2012?

While staff changes at CTFK occured in 2012, the level of the grants awarded (as of today) has been fairly low: $152.724 for projects in 3 countries: Ghana to promote pictorial warnings, Cameroon and Togo to support the enactment of strict regulations. Compared to the previous levels of funding this is very small. The same probably goes for the American Cancer Society that manages the millions provided by the Gates Foundation but does not provide any detailed budget.

Ghana new tobacco control law bans smoking in public places

The new regulations also include big health warnings on the packs. Let us look for the implementation and pictures of the new packs.

Bloomberg Initiative: $39,709 to support tobacco control regulations in Ghana

The Bloomberg Initative has awarded $39.709 to Vision for Alternative Development to support a "consolidated campaign for the Implementation of the FCTC Article 11 (Pictorial Health Warnings) and implementation of Ghana's Public Health ACT.
According to the BI site, the 6 months project aims to strengthen tobacco control in Ghana by creating the supportive environment necessary for the Implementation of Article 11 of the FCTC.

Ghana: failing its obligation to the FCTC

Ghana has failed to meet its obligations on article 8, 13 and 5.2 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). February 27, 2010 was the deadline for Ghana to have implemented a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (Article 13) and ban smoking in public places (Article 8). Ghana is expected to have in place comprehensive tobacco control legislation five years after ratifying the FCTC (Article 5.2).

Ghana must speed up legislation on tobacco

That's according to Patricia Lambert, during a special workshop in tobacco control in South Africa.

Ghana: a $15K grant for VISA from the Bloomberg Initiative

Tobacco Taxation Situational Report in Ghana

Vision for Alternative Development

To develop a tax report in Ghana with appropriate, FCTC-compliant tax policy recommendations that assist the Government of Ghana to follow through on its commitments to institute tax measures that reduce smoking.

Country: Ghana
Amount: $15,000
Start Date: Apr 2011
End Date: Jul 2011

 

Grants allocated by the Bloomberg Initiative to Ghana and Mozambique

Visiting the site where the Bloomberg Initiative lists the grants it has awarded, we find two grants we had not heard about: one for Ghana and one for Mozambique. Details below.

Ghana: A study of secondhand smoke exposure in selected public places

This research is published in the March 2011 issue of the Tobacco Control Journal. Its conclusion:

" SHS levels were unacceptably high in public places in Ghana where smoking is allowed, despite a relatively low-smoking prevalence in the country. This is one of the first studies to ascertain SHS and hair nicotine in Africa. Levels were comparable to those measured in American, Asian and European countries without or before smoking bans. Implementing a comprehensive smoke-free legislation that protects workers and customers from exposure to secondhand smoke is urgently needed in Ghana."

Source: Tobacco Control Journal

Ghana: Is Parliament/Cabinet full of smokers? by Joseph Ziem

Is Parliament/Cabinet full of smokers? That's the question asked by Accra based journalist and blogger Joseph Ziem as he deplores the lack of political will and support to pass the Anti Tobacco Bill.

I like any other average Ghanaian am just sick and tired of the fact that, there has been a very serious and disturbing delay in passing the Anti Tobacco Bill into Law, more than six years since it was taken to the Cabinet...

Source: Savannah News and Joy Online

From COP4: in Ghana, government's promises remain to be implemented.

Current levels of tax levied on tobacco products in Ghana still mean cigarettes are cheap and easily accessible, even to minors. Tax revenue generated by tobacco sales falls far short of what the government spends on treating tobacco-related diseases.

Source: FCA Bulletin 109, article bu Issah Ali (page 8).

Ghana: Civil society shadow report on the implementation of the FCTC

The shadow report on tobacco control in Ghana produced by VALD was presented by its Executive Director, Mr Issa Ali.

Ghana: VALD calls for early passage of Tobacco Bill.

Mr Massawudu of the VALD NGO made this statement to the Ghana News Agency in solidarity with the celebration of the 10th International Week of Resistance to Tobacco Transnationals across the globe.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Amos Safo: Ghana has done very little in ensuring the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

A team led by Dr. Ahmed E. Ogwell Ouma from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control was in Ghana last week to assess the country's level of implementation of provisions of the convention.
The team met with the media and the Civil Society Coalition on Tobacco Control among others.
What came up during these meetings clearly indicates that Ghana, one of the 40 countries that took the lead in ratifying the Convention, has done very little in ensuring the implementation of the Convention.

Source: Public Agenda, Editor Amos Safo

Ghana: We need a tobacco control law

This article by Jeorge Wilson Kingson of the Media Alliance on Tobacco Control was published January 21 on Ghana Web.

Ghana: $150K to promote graphic warnings and tobacco control Bill

 

Consolidated Campaign for Implementation of FCTC Article 11 (Pictorial Warning) and passage of the FCTC Implementation Bill in Ghana

Vision for Alternative Development

To advocate for the adoption of a strong national tobacco control bill

Country: Ghana
Amount: $150,000
Start Date: Oct 2009
End Date: Sep 2010

Source: Google map Bloomberg Initiative

Smoking uptake and prevalence in Ghana

This research paper about smoking uptake and prevalence in Ghana has just been published in the October 2009 issue of Tobacco Control available online. The prevalence of smoking in Ghana is one of the lowest in Africa: current 3.8%, ever smoking at 9.7%.

Cigarette smuggling into Ghana

CIGARETTE SMUGGLING INTO GHANA is an article by Issah Ali, Executive Director of Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), in the page 4 of the issue 88 of the FCA Bulletin (pdf) published sunday at the start of the INB3 conference in Geneva.

Ghana: toward a Tobacco Control Bill

As a result of Vision for Alternative Development (VALD) intensive advocacy and lobbying the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health; Hon Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, Parliament has expressed it readiness to pass a Tobacco Control Bill into a law to control tobacco in Ghana. Thanks to our partners (FCA, NCS, ATCRI and others) for supporting our efforts. We hope to pressure to get the Bill approve by Cabinet this month (June 2009), as stated by Hon Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey (Minister of Health) and presented to Parliament in July 2008.

Ghana: communique issued at the end of the national strategy meeting on the tobacco control bill

We, the Civil Society Organizations’ and representative of Government Agencies at the National Stakeholders Strategy Meeting on the ‘Tobacco Control Bill’ organized by the Vision for Alternative Development (VALD) at M-Plaza Hotel in Accra, on June 9^th 2009. 

 

Alarmed by the spread of tobacco epidemic in Africa and its devastating effects on Ghana’s health, environment, economy and society;

Ghana: President Mills urged to pass the national tobacco control bill

The Executive Director of Vision for Alternative Development [VALD], Mr. Issah Ali has urged President John Evans Atta Mills to strongly recommend to his office to facilitate the process of presenting the Draft National Tobacco Control Bill to Parliament for passage into law, in order  to help protect  the health of the children, pregnant women and vulnerable groups in the country. 

Source: Anna Duker on the VALD's blog

Ghana: tobacco control meeting in Accra

An article about this meeting.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana: the Cancer Society of Ghana calls for a tobacco control bill

The Cancer Society of Ghana (CSG), in collaboration with the African Cancer Consortium (AFROX) a UK-based non-governmental organisation on Thursday launched this year’s Cancer awareness month in the country with a call on government to forward the tobacco control bill initiated to Parliament for consideration.
Source: Joyonline

Ghana: A call to prohibit the sale of cigarettes to minors

Ms Edith Wellington, the Focal Person for Tobacco Control at the Ghana Health Service (GHS) appeals to the government to hasten the approval of the bill banning the sale of cigarettes to minors.
Deputy Health Minister, Dr Gladys Ashietey, says the bill on cigarettes is still in the process of being passed into a law.
Source: Graphic Online

World No Tobacco Day 2008: Mrs. Comfort Opoku-Ware:the Greater Accra Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB).

Mrs. Comfort Opoku-Ware is the Greater Accra Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB). She has been working with this organization for the past 23 years. Mrs. Opoku-Ware has been actively involved in tobacco control for about seven years. In her capacity as the  Regional Manager she has actively chaired and facilitated workshop and seminars with the Ghana Health Service and WHO to make public places smoke-free. Her particular interest in tobacco control/smoke free public places has allowed her to serve on WNTD planning committees.

Mrs. Comfort Opoku-Ware as a Regional Manager has also collaborated with the GHS and WHO to produce ”no smoking” signs for tables and walls for selected public places in Accra. She is currently discussing with her organization how to enforce the ban on smoking in Public places when the Ministry of Health and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hopefully announces the ban this year (2008).

Ghana: Vision for Alternative Development (VALD) urges the Governement to ban tobacco advertising

Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), an NGO, has called on the Ministry of Health and the Food and Drugs Board to, in line with the constitution of Ghana, design and implement a comprehensive policy to ensure a total "ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship" in the country.

Source: Public Agenda in Accra (via All Africa.com)

Anti-tobacco team visiting Accra

Advocates from Canada and Nigeria visited Accra to provide support for tobacco control.

Ghana: Experts discuss measures for tobacco control in Africa

The African Regional Meeting on Tobacco Control Building for Africa, is underway in Accra to brainstorm on strategies to curb the about 5.4 million global annual deaths related to tobacco.
Source: ModernGhana.com  26 June 2008, Accra.

The African Regional Meeting on Tobacco Control Building for Africa, is underway in Accra to brainstorm on strategies to curb the about 5.4 million global annual deaths related to tobacco.
Source: ModernGhana.com  26 June 2008, Accra.

The media should inform more about tobacco and alcohol

A two-day consultation meeting on the use of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test tool  has taken place in Accra: 'ASSIST' and brief intervention strategies against substance abuse in African countries.

It was organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

About the situation in Ghana

An article by Dr Kofi Ahmed, Ag. Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health , from the Accra Daily Mail.

Ghana: Concern over delay of Tobacco Law

Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) expressed regret on Tuesday about the delay in the passage of the law to ban smoking in public places.