World -No-Tobacco Day 2025: Unmasking the Appeal of Tobacco Products in Ho

The Volta Region of Ghana played host to the World No Tobacco Day 2025 celebrations, with the theme ‘Unmasking the Appeal, Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products’. The event aimed to educate the public, particularly the youth, about the dangers of tobacco and nicotine products.

I represented the Stroke Association Supportnetwork-Ghana (SASNET GHANA) in my capacity as the Executive Director and the Vice Chair of the Ghana NCD Alliance.

And  emphasized on the following points regarding the importance of protecting the youth from the harmful effects of tobacco products.

Highlighting  that , industry’s tactics to lure young people into using these products are often masked by appealing flavors and packaging.

1. The consequences of tobacco use are severe and long-lasting, affecting not only the individual but also their loved ones,
2. We must not be blinded by the variety of flavors used to make these products appealing.
3. The truth is, tobacco products are deadly, and we must expose the industry’s tactics.

I gave an assurance that,  SASNET GHANA will continue to collaborate with key stakeholders, including the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ministry of Health (MoH), NCD Control Programme of the Ghana Health Service (NCDCP), World Health Organization Ghana (WHO-Ghana), Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST-Ghana) and international partners such as World Heart Federation (WHF) , etc.,  to sensitize the youth on the harms of tobacco products.

The Stroke Association Supportnetwork-Ghana (SASNET GHANA) is committed and would be playing a vigilante role in exposing the industry’s tactics and strategies, which often target vulnerable populations, including children and young adults.

By working together, SASNET GHANA and its partners aim to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use and related health problems in Ghana.

The World No Tobacco Day 2025 event in Ho served as a reminder of the importance of protecting the health and well-being of the youth and the need for continued efforts to combat the tobacco epidemic, Together, we can create a tobacco-free future for Ghana’s youth and ensure a healthier, more sustainable tomorrow.

Sir Ad Adams Ebenezer

Executive Director SASNET-GHANA  and the Vice Chair Ghana NCD Alliance.