The Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), a non-profitable organisation, has urged the government to increase taxes on tobacco products in order to have an effect on the price of cigarettes.

The VALD made the call on the premise that tobacco products like cigarettes, an entire packet selling at ¢2.00 is too cheap, hence the price should be adjusted through a regular review system that would control its accessibility and affordability.

The VALD led by the Executive Director of Programmes, Labram Musah added that the country must regulate tobacco products’ access and affordability to deter and protect the public against health hazards such as cancers and cardiovascular problems.

He said this while launching a study, the “Ghana 2021 tobacco industry interference index” in Accra yesterday, Wednesday, October 6.

The launch also marked the 2nd edition of the tobacco industry interference index by VALD.

In the study, Mr Musah said a total of 10 recommendations were made to the government to help streamline the use of tobacco in the country.

He noted that although the country’s performance has improved by two advantage points, thus declining from 58 to 56, on the global tobacco industry interference index, much is needed to be done.

According to him, there are still signs of interference in terms of lack of transparency, corruption, and weak enforcement of the law.

Mr Musah, among many other things, suggested that the government should engage Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) like the VALD to develop the code of conduct to ban public organisations from receiving support from the tobacco industry.

He further added that should consider the establishment of an inter-agency coordinating committee under the health ministry to monitor the activities of the tobacco industry.

“We recommend that the government ban all tobacco-related CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility activities and directs the tobacco industry to publicly report or declare their CSR initiatives in the country, as this is now currently available in the public domain.

“Additionally, we recommend full disclosure on this website of all activities including their market shares, revenue and profits, tax exemptions or any privileges the tobacco industry receives,” he urged.

By Adelaide Oforiwa Adimer