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

VALD made the call on the premise that tobacco product like cigarette been sold ¢2.00 per pack is too cheap, hence the price should be adjusted through regular review system that would control it accessibility and affordability.

VALD led by the Executive Director of Programmes, Labram Musah added that the country’s tobacco policy must regulates tobacco products access and affordability to deter and protect the citizens against health problems such as cancers.

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

The launch also marked the 2nd edition of 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, declining from 58 to 56, on the global tobacco industry interference index, much is needed to be done.

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

Mr Musah, among many other things suggested that the government should engage Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) like VALD to develop the core 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 tobacco industry.

“We recommend that the government Bana all tobacco-related CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility activities and directs the tobacco industry to publicly report or declare it’s CSR initiatives in the country, as this is nor 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.