The Ministry of Health has announced Ghana’s national participation in the 2025 World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), under the global theme “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products.”
The annual campaign, scheduled for May 31, aims to increase awareness of the health risks of tobacco use and unearth the deceptive marketing strategies of the tobacco and nicotine industry targeting young people.
According to the Ministry of Health, the campaign is being executed in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Ghana Health Service, the World Health Organization (WHO), and Civil Society Organizations.
“The focus for 2025 is to shed light on the aggressive and deceptive tactics used by the tobacco and nicotine industries to lure our younger generation into addiction”
Ministry of Health
Despite the overwhelming evidence of harm, the industry continues to present nicotine products in attractive forms. The statement warned that the tobacco industry still manages to thrive globally, contributing to more than eight million deaths annually through increasingly sophisticated methods.
These include “the use of flavours, colourful and sleek packaging, and social media influencers” to glamorize harmful products. Additionally, “many products are even designed to resemble sweets or toys, appealing directly to children and young people.”
The Ministry stated that tobacco use remains one of the foremost causes of preventable death and disease, contributing to severe conditions including “lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and reproductive complications.”
It further noted that exposure to second-hand smoke heightens risks of asthma and respiratory infections among non-smokers, especially children.
New data emerging from a national STEP Survey has exposed troubling patterns in Ghana’s tobacco use.
“According to the survey, the adult population (18–69 years) who currently smoke tobacco is 4.8% with a statistically significant difference in prevalence between men (9.3%) and women (0.3%)”
Ministry of Health
Of particular concern is the growing popularity of shisha among young women. While only 6.6% of men who smoke use shisha, a staggering “44.0% of women who currently smoke, smoke shisha.” The survey noted that overall shisha use stands at 7.8%, with the highest rate (12.7%) among those aged 18–29.
These figures, the Ministry emphasized, underscore the urgent need for stronger regulations and public awareness efforts. It reiterated that the sale and advertisement of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), vapes, and non-nicotine tobacco products remain illegal in Ghana under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851) and the Tobacco Control Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2247).
Specifically, it noted that these products contravene Part Six and Sections 61 (2) and 62(1) of the Public Health Act as well as Regulation 16 of the Tobacco Control Regulations.
This year’s theme urges communities to confront and dismantle what the Ministry termed “the industry’s attempts to normalize nicotine use and undermine tobacco control efforts.” In response, the Ministry and its partners are set to intensify educational campaigns across the country targeting students, workers, and the general public.
To that end, a series of activities have been planned to mark the 2025 World No Tobacco Day. Chief among them is a national launch to be held on Monday, June 2, 2025, in Ho in the Volta Region. The event will bring together Chiefs, Sub-chiefs and opinion leaders from the Ho Traditional Area to amplify the message.
Also planned is a public awareness walk through the main streets of Ho, featuring placards and posters with key messages on the dangers of tobacco use and industry manipulation. Educational outreach will also extend to schools (secondary and tertiary), markets, churches, and transport terminals nationwide, according to the Ministry.
Further steps include targeted messaging via social and traditional media platforms, as well as surveillance operations to enforce existing bans on illicit tobacco and nicotine products.
The Ministry called on all Ghanaians to “join this campaign to expose and resist the tactics of the tobacco and nicotine industry.” It stressed the importance of national unity to protect future generations from the burden of tobacco-related diseases and build a healthier, tobacco-free Ghana.
“Let us unmask the appeal, unveil the truth, and protect our youth,” the Public Relations Unit concluded.
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