The Ministry of Health, Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana Health Service (GHS), and other stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have cautioned Ghanaians about the health impacts of tobacco as the world marked World No Tobacco Day 2025.
The annual event, held on May 31, aims to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use.
According to these stakeholders, tobacco companies are misleading the public with flavored products, falsely suggesting they are harmless.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Health on Saturday, May 31, 2025, it was noted that “Tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable illness and death worldwide. It is linked to a wide range of serious health conditions, including lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and reproductive complications.”
The statement also provided statistics on smoking demographics in the country and highlighted activities planned for this year’s commemoration.
“A recent data from a STEP Survey shows that adult population (18-69) years who currently smoke tobacco is 4.8% with a statistically significant difference in prevalence between men 9.3% and women 0.3%. Out of this, those who smoke shisha is 7.8%, which is more prevalent among age group 18-29 years (12.7%) and highest among women. Whereas only 6.6% of men who currently smoke, smoke shisha, 44.0% of women who currently smoke, smoke shisha,” the statement further contained.
