The Western regional Food and Drug Authority is preparing to aggressively implement the Public Health Act of 2012 (Act 851), which makes discriminatory tobacco smoking in public illegal.
The Act, especially Section 58(1) outlaws smoking in public places such as workplaces, public transit, leisure spaces, restaurants, and bars.
The Authority’s decision to crack down on such habits immediately is considered to be opportune, given that data available from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) shows 20% of tobacco-related fatalities in Ghana are due to those who involuntarily inhale smoke from burning tobacco products.
Dr. Martin Kusi, the Western Regional Director of the FDA, emphasized the need to enforce the legislation, citing the region’s somewhat higher mortality rates from passive smoking compared to national numbers.
He emphasises that passive smokers have an increased chance of developing lung cancer, coronary heart disease, and even cardiac death.
To this aim, Dr. Kusi added that the enforcement of the Act is being done in stages, as the Authority is now sensitizing owners of restaurants and bars to provide an area for smoking.
“As part of effort in enforcing the law, all bars, restaurants, and public establishments are now required to display prominent “No Smoking” signs, particularly in spaces where food is served..one can not just go to any public place and begin to smoke for such habit is an upfront to the laws” he warned.
According to Dr. Kusi, following sensitization, the Authority will start on a large-scale tobacco-free society enforcing exercise where those found to be breaking the law will be penalised, including serving a prison term.
With the rapid increase in cholera cases in the region as the Christmas season approaches, Dr. Kusi advised the people to exercise caution while purchasing commodities from the market, as vegetables and fruits should be well cleaned before being used to prepare food.
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By Stephen Cudjoe
