Ghana: IOGT Members Campaign for Better Alcohol Control
Leading the Ghana Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance, IOGT members are campaigning for improved regulation of alcohol marketing in the country.
The Ghana NCD Alliance is calling on the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) of Ghana to extend the ban on alcohol advertising on airwaves from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The current ban, in force since December 2017, prohibits advertising of alcoholic products between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the evening. According to Labram Musah the Coordinator of the Ghana NCD Alliance and part of the IOGT International Member Organization, Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), the idea behind the current ban was that young people below the age of 18 would be asleep after 8 p.m. but, this is not the case in reality. Therefore, the call for the extended hours is put forth to protect children and youth below 18 years from being exposed to alcohol advertising.
Non-communicable diseases are a leading cause of deaths worldwide especially for low- to middle-income countries like Ghana, with alcohol and tobacco use being a major contributor,” said Labram Musah, National Coordinator, Ghana Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance, as per Ghana Business News.
Alcohol Harm in Ghana
©WHO Global Alcohol Status Report, 2014
WHO reports, the per capita consumption for alcohol users above 15 years of age is at 20.6 litres of pure alcohol, with an increasing trend. Alcohol is considered a major burden for development in Ghana. Our members’ efforts in protecting youth and children from alcohol harm in Ghana is important, especially in view of the almost 77% of the population of Ghana who choose to live alcohol free.
