The Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Ghana (VAST Ghana), has called for urgent and stronger action to close gaps in Ghana’s implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), following the release of a comprehensive civil society shadow report assessing the country’s 2024 progress.

The report, released in 2026, acknowledges that Ghana has made notable strides in tobacco control through the efforts of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), particularly in public education and enforcement activities. These include nationwide awareness campaigns conducted in schools, markets, churches, lorry stations, and community centres to educate the public on the dangers of tobacco use and the provisions of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).

The FDA has also conducted random compliance checks at point-of-sale locations and other public vantage points to monitor adherence to tobacco control regulations, including no-smoking signage requirements and the establishment of designated smoking areas. Where violations were detected, authorities imposed regulatory sanctions, including fines, prosecutions, and in some cases the seizure of illegally traded tobacco products.

VAST Ghana said it has collaborated with the FDA on several of these outreach initiatives, helping to expand community-level education and amplify tobacco control messaging.

However, despite these gains, the report notes that Ghana still faces significant challenges in translating its strong legal framework into consistent and effective implementation. Prepared independently by civil society, the shadow report complements Ghana’s official submissions to the WHO Conference of Parties by providing an evidence-based assessment grounded in field observations and community experiences.

A major concern highlighted in the report is the potential for tobacco industry interference in public health policymaking. Although Ghana has established a Tobacco Control Interagency Coordinating Committee and a five-year National Tobacco Control Strategy, VAST Ghana noted that there is currently no publicly accessible government system documenting meetings, lobbying activities, or interactions between tobacco companies and public officials.

According to the organisation, this lack of transparency undermines the implementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC, which requires governments to protect public health policies from tobacco industry influence. VAST Ghana has therefore recommended the creation of a transparent national registry documenting all engagements between government officials and the tobacco industry, alongside the introduction of a clear code of conduct for public officials and regular awareness training on the Article 5.3 guidelines.

On tobacco taxation, the report recognises progress made through the passage of the Excise Duty (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2023 (Act 1108), which introduced a hybrid tax structure combining ad valorem and specific taxes. Evidence suggests that tobacco excise revenues doubled in the first year of implementation. However, VAST Ghana expressed concern that the reduction of the ad valorem rate from 175 per cent to 50 per cent and the lack of inflation adjustments for the specific tax rate could make tobacco products more affordable over time.

The report therefore recommends an upward review of tobacco tax rates, the introduction of automatic inflation adjustments, and the closure of duty-free import loopholes that weaken tobacco control efforts. It also calls for the removal of excise taxes on electronic cigarettes, noting a legal contradiction in taxing products that are simultaneously banned under the Public Health Act.

Secondhand smoke exposure remains another major concern due to weak enforcement of smoke-free laws. Although smoking in public places is prohibited, the report notes that violations remain common in hospitality and entertainment venues. VAST Ghana is therefore recommending the adoption of a fully smoke-free policy with stronger monitoring systems across all indoor public spaces, workplaces, and public transport systems.

The organisation also highlighted emerging regulatory gaps related to shisha products, which often carry health warnings only on outer packaging that retailers can easily remove. To address this, the report recommends mandatory pictorial health warnings on all layers of packaging, the inclusion of cessation information on all tobacco products, and the adoption of standardized plain packaging similar to measures implemented in countries such as Mauritius and Côte d’Ivoire.

Another area requiring urgent attention is online tobacco promotion. Despite existing legal prohibitions on online advertising and sales, social media platforms and e-commerce sites have become channels for promoting tobacco products, particularly through influencer and entertainment content. VAST Ghana is urging the establishment of dedicated regulatory units to monitor online tobacco marketing and stronger legislation to regulate digital and cross-border advertising.

The report also draws attention to the widespread sale of tobacco products to minors, particularly through the sale of single cigarette sticks, which makes tobacco more affordable and accessible to children and adolescents. It calls for stricter enforcement of laws prohibiting sales to minors and the elimination of single-stick sales.

In addition, VAST Ghana noted that awareness of Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC remains low among public officials, limiting their ability to identify and manage conflicts of interest involving the tobacco industry. The organisation is recommending a sustained national awareness campaign to build the capacity of policymakers to recognise and resist industry influence.

Another major gap identified is the lack of operational tobacco cessation services in Ghana. Although tobacco cessation guidelines were developed in 2017, they have not yet been implemented. Currently, there are no dedicated cessation facilities at regional or district levels, essential medicines for tobacco dependence are unavailable, and many healthcare workers lack the training needed to provide cessation support.

VAST Ghana is therefore calling for the immediate review and operationalisation of the 2017 cessation guidelines in line with WHO recommendations and international best practices.

The organisation has urged the Government of Ghana, Parliament, the Food and Drugs Authority, and other relevant ministries to treat the findings of the report as a roadmap for strengthening tobacco control.

It also called on the media to amplify public awareness about the link between tobacco use and the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Ghana, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory conditions, and diabetes.

VAST Ghana further appealed to international partners and the World Health Organization to support Ghana in bridging the gap between its policy commitments and their implementation.

According to the organisation, stronger action is essential to protect public health and reduce the growing burden that tobacco-related diseases place on Ghana’s healthcare system.