Abstract
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the world, with most of these deaths now occurring in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is at an early stage of a tobacco epidemic and is, therefore, particularly vulnerable to rapid growth in tobacco consumption. More than a decade into the implementation of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), State Parties in several countries in SSA, such as Ghana, have yet to fully fulfil their obligations. Despite early ratification of the FCTC in 2004, progress in implementing tobacco control measures in Ghana has been slow and much work remains to be done. The aim of this paper is to critically reflect on tobacco control implementation in Ghana, identify significant research priorities and make recommendations for future action to support tobacco control implementation. We emphasize the need for stronger implementation of the FCTC and its MPOWER policy package, particularly in the area of tobacco taxes, illicit trade and industry interference.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) has provided guidance for countries to implement and manage tobacco control policies to prevent this epidemic through the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2003. 2 The FCTC remains one of the most successfully endorsed treaties with 181 parties (44 in Africa) currently signed up to it, representing 90% of the world’s population. 3 Despite this commitment, implementation of effective tobacco control policies and programs in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is lacking, subverted by the tobacco industry who continue to weaken and undermine policy development and execution. 4
There is the lack of LMIC researchers with appropriate skills, resources and expertise to identify research priorities and conduct the research in tobacco control, given that the health challenges in LMICs have tended to be dominated by communicable diseases. 3,4 Second, engagement with policymakers and government in LMICs is problematic due to a dearth of researchers in these countries with the necessary substantive and methodological expertise who have good links with relevant stakeholders. 4
To address these challenges the Tobacco Control Capacity Programme (TCCP), a £3.4 million program funded by Research Councils UK as part of the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), is designed to support research institutions in LMICs to develop policy-relevant research in tobacco control with the aim of improving research capacity in LMICs. 4 It involves academics from the United Kingdom (UK) who will work alongside research organizations in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, The Gambia, India, South Africa, Pakistan, Uganda, and Ghana
Summary
Ghana has been a world leader in introducing anti-tobacco legislation, having been the first country to prohibit advertising, under a government directive issued as early as 1982. 5 Ghana has been an active member in the development of the WHO FCTC, being one of the first five African countries to become a party to the Convention, and the 39th country to sign the FCTC (on the 20th June 2003), and ratifying the Convention on the 29th November 2004. 6,7 Ghana has performed an active role by chairing committee meetings at the 1st and 2nd Conferences of the Parties, in Geneva (2006) and in Thailand (2007) respectively. 6,7 Ghana has performed an active role by chairing committee meetings at the 1st and 2nd Conferences of the Parties, in Geneva (2006) and in Thailand (2007) respectively. It played a significant role in tobacco control activities and programs worldwide such as the Framework Convention Alliance seminar for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Africa Regional Office (AFRO) region in 2007; the 1st session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the Protocol on Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in Geneva in February 2008; and hosting the WHO sponsored Consultation on Regional Capacity Building for Tobacco Control in Africa.
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