CSOs reject ILAPI’s ‘Reduction Strategy,’ insist e-cigarettes are detrimental to health
Civil society organisations (CSOs) have rejected the Institute for Liberty and Policy Innovation’s (ILAPI), an ally of tobacco industry harm reduction strategies to tobacco use, which had recently increased the demand for e-cigarette among young people.
Among the CSOs are the Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Vision for Alternative Development, and Ghana NCD Alliance.
They said the ILAPI’s so-called strategies had increased the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products, containing nicotine and other harmful chemicals and that “e-cigarettes are detrimental to health.”
The CSOs said while harm reduction may seem to offer a short-term solution to the dangers posed by combustible the recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report on e-cigarettes cautioned against such approaches.
“Meanwhile, ILAPI has continuously trumpeted the tobacco industry’s deadly products to children and young people in Ghana,” they stated.
This was in a joint statement copied to the Ghana News Agency by Mr Labram M. Musah, the Executive Director, Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development/National Coordinator, Ghana NCD Alliance.
It said the WHO had emphasized in the report dubbed: “Call to Action on Electronic Cigarettes” urging governments to be wary of the harm associated with electronic cigarettes.
“We have drawn the attention of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to this report, but its recommendations are yet to be reflected in policy actions,” the CSOs said.
The statement noted that nicotine, regardless of its form, is highly addictive and harmful, posing significant health risks.
“In addition, these so-called harm-reduction products typically contain additives, flavours, and chemicals that are dangerous to people’s health,” it stated, adding that; “Strategies that replace one harmful product with another only maintain addiction and present long-term public health risks.”
The statement said: “The Swedish approach which uses nicotine products like snus to reduce smoking-related diseases is often cited as a model. However, it should not be applied directly to Ghana’s context without scrutiny.
“Sweden’s success is embedded in its unique social and regulatory environment, which does not align with Ghana’s public health priorities and tobacco use patterns. While some stakeholders may present this approach as evidence of progress, it is essential to critically assess the benefits and limitations.
It pointed out that Ghana has already achieved substantial progress in tobacco control through legislative frameworks, public education, and rigorous enforcement.
“Currently, the smoking prevalence in Ghana is less than five per cent with an upsurge in the use of e-cigarettes among young people, which attests to the fact that many of the users of these new trends are non-smokers but have been influenced by the marketing tactics and appealing nature of the products,” the statement said.
It said it was important to note that a non-smoker who uses these products may become addicted to nicotine and find it difficult to stop using them or become addicted to conventional tobacco products.
“This is what is being experienced in some parts of the country where young people are diverting to combustible cigarette use due to the unavailability of e-cigarettes at the time of need,” the statement noted.
It said the belief that e-cigarettes were less harmful because they do not produce tobacco smoke created a false sense of security.
The World Health Federation policy brief on e-cigarettes provides further insights into these risks, underscoring the urgent need for stricter regulations to prevent the normalization of these dangerous products.
We urge the MoH and FDA to resist pressures from industry-backed groups and remain focused on creating a tobacco-free future. Together, we can strengthen tobacco control policies and promote public health without compromising the gains we have made.
Source: GNA