Health authorities and anti-tobacco advocates have renewed calls for stronger action against emerging nicotine products, warning that electronic cigarettes, vapes and flavoured tobacco alternatives are fueling a new wave of addiction among young people.
The call was made during the launch of the 2026 World No Tobacco Day in Accra, where stakeholders expressed concern that the tobacco industry is increasingly targeting younger generations through attractive packaging, sweet flavours and aggressive marketing strategies.
Delivering a speech on behalf of Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Dr. Hafiz Adam Taher said the tobacco and nicotine industry had shifted tactics by replacing traditional cigarettes with products marketed as modern and less harmful alternatives.
According to the Ministry of Health, tobacco-related illnesses continue to place a significant burden on Ghana’s economy, costing an estimated GH¢668 million annually in healthcare expenses and lost productivity, while contributing to more than 6,000 preventable deaths each year.
The Minister warned that products such as vapes, e-cigarettes and shisha are often disguised through appealing flavours and branding designed to attract young consumers, despite the health risks associated with nicotine addiction.
He urged young people to reject these products and focus on building healthy futures, stressing that they should not become targets of an industry seeking to replace customers lost to tobacco-related diseases.
The event, organised by the Ministry of Health, the Food and Drugs Authority and Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development Ghana, also highlighted concerns about regulatory gaps surrounding e-cigarettes and vaping products.
Executive Director of VAST-Ghana, Labram Musah, called for legislative reforms to remove ambiguities in existing laws governing vaping products. He argued that conflicting provisions in current legislation create enforcement challenges and risk normalising nicotine use among young people.
Mr. Musah also urged government to increase excise taxes on tobacco products, citing evidence that higher prices reduce consumption while generating additional revenue for public health programmes.
Representing the World Health Organization in Ghana, Fiona Braka said nicotine addiction is deliberately engineered by manufacturers and warned that emerging products threaten decades of progress in tobacco control.
She commended Ghana for implementing key tobacco control measures, including smoke-free policies, tobacco taxation and health warning requirements, but stressed that continued vigilance is needed to counter evolving industry tactics.
Chairman of the event, Cyril Ben Smith, emphasized the need for collective action from parents, educators, religious leaders and policymakers to protect young people from harmful influences and ensure they have the opportunity to thrive free from nicotine addiction.
The 2026 World No Tobacco Day celebration was held under the theme, “Unmasking the Appeal – Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction,” focusing attention on the growing challenge posed by new nicotine products and the need for stronger public health interventions.
