Re: Reject deceptive calls to endorse vapes as tobacco hurt relief in Ghana’s Public Health Act – Life Pulse Daily

Introduction

Recent lobbying efforts in Ghana are attempting to rebrand electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and other novel tobacco products as essential tools for “Tobacco Harm Reduction” (THR). However, leading public health advocates warn that these calls are deceptive, driven by industry interests rather than scientific evidence. Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development Ghana (VAST Ghana) is at the forefront of this battle, urging regulators to maintain strict controls under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851). This article analyzes the risks of normalizing vaping in Ghana, the economic arguments used by lobbyists, and the critical need to uphold the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

Key Points

Background

The Push for “Harm Reduction”

In December 2025, a debate sparked in Ghanaian media following an article by Bismark Peter, affiliated with the Institute for Liberty and Policy Innovation (ILAPI). The piece advocated for amending Ghana’s Public Health Act to include Tobacco Harm Reduction strategies, arguing that products like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches could offer multi-sector wins in public health and economic diversification. This narrative is a common tactic used by free-market think tanks that often align with tobacco industry interests.

Ghana’s Regulatory Landscape

Ghana has historically maintained a low smoking prevalence through rigorous enforcement of the Public Health Act, 2012. Under current FDA regulations, the sale and promotion of non-tobacco nicotine products are prohibited. VAST Ghana and other advocates argue that opening the door to these products would be a “deadly regression,” undoing decades of public health progress.

Analysis

Deconstructing the Economic Argument

Lobbyists often claim that legalizing vapes will boost the economy through tax revenue and foreign investment. However, this argument fails to account for the real cost of tobacco use. According to the Tobacco Atlas (2025), the economic cost of tobacco use in Ghana is estimated at roughly 1.67 billion Ghana cedis annually, covering direct healthcare expenditures and lost productivity from premature death and disease.

Introducing highly addictive nicotine products will inevitably increase the pool of users, leading to a future surge in healthcare costs that far outweighs any potential tax revenue. As Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, noted in the 2025 Tobacco Trend Report, the tobacco industry is fighting back against declining smoking rates by aggressively targeting youth with new products.

The “Youth Initiation” Tool

The primary public health threat in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) is not the use of vapes as cessation aids, but their effectiveness as a youth initiation tool. Data from the 2017 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) for Ghana revealed that 4.9% to 5.8% of Junior High School students reported current e-cigarette use—a rate higher than the 3.0% who smoked traditional cigarettes.

Field observations in Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso show that children are ordering flavored vapes via WhatsApp groups. These products are specifically designed to be discreet—leaving no odor or visual trace—to evade parental detection.

Nicotine: The Hidden Danger

The tobacco industry’s mantra that “people smoke for the nicotine but die from the tar” intentionally downplays the severe risks of nicotine itself. Scientific evidence confirms that nicotine:

• Is highly addictive.
• Adversely affects cardiovascular health.
• Hinders adolescent brain development, impacting attention, learning, and impulse control.
• Increases risks of anxiety and depression.
• Prenatal exposure is linked to developmental issues and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

Furthermore, the aerosol from e-cigarettes is not “harmless water vapor.” The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms it contains heavy metals (lead, nickel, tin), volatile organic compounds, and ultrafine particles that penetrate deep into the lungs.

Practical Advice

For Policymakers and Regulators

To protect public health, Ghana must adhere to the WHO MPOWER framework. This involves:

1. Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies.
2. Protect people from tobacco smoke (smoke-free environments).
3. Offer help to quit tobacco use (access to cessation counseling and medication).
4. Warn about the dangers of tobacco and nicotine use (plain packaging and graphic warnings).
5. Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.
6. Raise taxes on tobacco products.

Policymakers should reject any amendments to the Public Health Act that would normalize nicotine intake outside of a strict medical context.

For Parents and Educators

Vigilance is key. Because vaping products are often designed to be discreet, parents should look for changes in behavior, unexplained expenses, or the presence of sweet scents. Educators must be trained to identify vaping devices and understand that these are not harmless gadgets but drug delivery systems.

FAQ

Conclusion

The debate over endorsing vapes in Ghana is not merely a policy discussion; it is a battle for the health of the nation’s youth and the integrity of its public health laws. The evidence is clear: “harm reduction” as marketed by the tobacco industry creates new addicts rather than helping current smokers quit. It poses a severe risk to youth, burdens the economy with future healthcare costs, and violates international treaty obligations.

As stated by Labram Musah, Executive Director of VAST Ghana, “We must shield our comprehensive tobacco control regulations from all forms of tobacco industry interference.” Ghana must reject the false promise of innovation and strictly enforce the Public Health Act to protect its future.