Research conducted in Ghana by Dr Michael Boachie of the University of Allied Sciences and the University of Cape Town and his team reveals that smoking is increasingly becoming a grave concern, particularly among low-income groups, uneducated, and rural folks.

This was contained in a study titled “Report on the economics of tobacco taxation/control in Ghana,” which was sponsored by the Vision for Alternative Development (VALD) and partners.

Launching the report today, Dr Boachie during a presentation said these categories of persons are adopting smoking habits because tobacco products are easily accessible and affordable to all pockets.

He said with less than GHC50p one can purchase a stick of cigarettes at a retail shop, hence the surge in tobacco consumption among all age groups, especially the youth.

According to him, it was observed during the study that whenever the price of tobacco drops, there was a surge in its usage, and therefore, called for measures that would cause a sudden increase in tobacco products price.

He recommended that one effective way to achieve soaring tobacco products’ prices was through effective taxation and prevention of illicit tobacco trade.

Dr Boachie proposed that not in a distant future, employment opportunities would be afforded first to none smokers.

The Executive Director of Programmes, Labram Musah added that some of the tobacco products on the market were smuggled into the country.

Mr Labram used the opportunity to call on the government to adjust the tax on tobacco products to discourage smoking as well as clamp down the illicit tobacco products traders, meanwhile, health effects of tobacco use were overburdening families and the country as a whole.