According to FDA, e‑cigarettes and vapes are illicit products in Ghana
What many young people see as a trendy, portable, and “safer” alternative to smoking is, in reality, far more dangerous.
Across Accra and other cities, vaping and shisha lounges are becoming popular spots, especially among the youth.
Older users too are increasingly turning to e‑cigarettes and vapes, believing them to be a stylish, less harmful substitute for traditional cigarettes.
But the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) says this perception is dangerously wrong.
Jemima Odonko, Head of the Tobacco Products Department at the FDA, has categorically stated that e‑cigarettes, vapes, and shisha are illegal in Ghana.
Speaking to GhanaWeb during a one‑day training on Illicit Financial Flows organised by the Financial Intelligence Centre in Accra, she explained that these devices are made from synthetically produced nicotine rather than natural tobacco, making them unregulated and unsafe.
More young women in Ghana smoke shisha than their male counterparts – Survey
“These vapes and e‑cigarettes are illicit products. They are not allowed under our laws,” she stressed.
Beyond their illegality, the health risks are staggering.
Studies show that vaping increases the risk of lung injury, heart disease, and nicotine addiction, with evidence linking it to long‑term respiratory problems.
Ordinary tobacco already contains more than 7,000 toxic chemicals, including 70 known carcinogens that directly cause cancer.
Shisha, on the other hand, which has become a social trend among Ghana’s youth, is even more alarming and research reveals that smoking shisha for just one hour is equivalent to smoking 200 sticks of cigarettes.
A 2024 nationwide study found that 44 percent of young women smokers aged 18–29 actively engage in shisha, compared to just 6.6 percent of men.
Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that tobacco use kills over 8 million people every year, including 1.3 million non‑smokers exposed to second‑hand smoke.
The FDA insists that no tobacco or nicotine product can be sold in Ghana without regulatory approval, which ensures health warnings and safety requirements are displayed.
Odonko urged the public, especially young people, to resist the lure of vapes and shisha.
“Protect your health, protect your future. These products are not only illegal, they are deadly,” she said.
SA
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