By Jibril Abdul Mumuni/Evans Osei, GNA
Accra, Aug. 30, GNA – Staff and management of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) have embarked on a public awareness campaign on some principal streets of Accra to educate the public on the dangers of tobacco and “shisha” use.
The exercise started from the Authority’s head office and proceeded to the 37 Lorry Station, where officials engaged drivers, commuters, and pedestrians on the health risks associated with tobacco and its related products.
The awareness campaign comes amid growing concern over the increasing use of tobacco products, particularly shisha, at pubs, clubs and event centres across the country.
The establishment of shisha joints in such places has made the products more accessible and popular among patrons.
Speaking during the exercise, Dr Martin Kusi, the Director of Tobacco and Substances of Abuse at the FDA, said although tobacco use prevalence in Ghana remained relatively low at about four per cent, the Authority was determined to prevent further exposure, especially among young people.
He noted that tobacco use was linked to several health conditions, including cancer and other non-communicable diseases.
Dr Kusi said factors such as peer pressure, loneliness and social influences continued to contribute to tobacco use, making it necessary to adopt a comprehensive strategy involving prevention, education, and enforcement.
To address the growing use of shisha, he said the FDA was engaging stakeholders in the hospitality and entertainment sectors, including the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Gaming Commission, to educate operators on the health implications of its use and encourage compliance with existing regulations.
“We are having stakeholder engagement with them for them to understand the consequences of the use of tobacco and its derivatives,” he said.
Dr Kusi expressed concern over the unauthorised routes through which many tobacco and shisha products entered the country, undermining regulatory efforts to control their availability and use.
As a result, he said the FDA was strengthening collaboration with state institutions responsible for border management and law enforcement to reduce the inflow of such products.
“We have seen that most of the shisha treatments and products come through unapproved routes. We are trying to liaise with other state agencies to make sure that we bring the influx of these products to the bare minimum,” he said.
The Director said the Authority was working with agencies such as Customs, Immigration and other security institutions to enhance surveillance and enforcement activities at the country’s borders.
It forms part of a broader public health response aimed at limiting access to tobacco and related products while discouraging their use among the population.
Although tobacco products were not banned in Ghana, the FDA would continue to implement measures to reduce their accessibility and protect the public from associated health risks, he said.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
30 Aug. 2026
