Ghana To Ban Shisha Smoking By June-July This Year

The Ghana Health Service(GHS) has revealed that it is working to put a ban on the smoking of Shisha and electronic cigarette by middle of this year.

The GHS says it is doing this in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

It will also partner with the Food and Drugs Board to make stiff laws that will fast track the process of the ban.

The Principal Research Officer at the Service, Divine Darlington Logoh disclosed this at the World Conference on Tobacco held in South Africa.

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Logoh noted that it was important to ban the smoking of shisha as the trend was becoming alarming. He said research on the smoking of the minted tobacco had revealed that one puff from a shisha tube equaled the smoking of an entire cigarette.

He however admitted that, currently, there are no laws governing shisha in the country and his outfit is working with the Food and Drugs Authority to correct that.

Mr. Lokoh speaks;

“All the effects of smoking are in shisha and electronic cigarettes. The FDA does not have the regulation right now to control the smoking of shisha and electronic cigarette.” Mr Darlington lamented.

“However, we’re working with the Ministry of Health to ban shisha and electronic cigarette. Shisha use is more harmful than cigarette. If you puff one from that tube it’s equal to one full cigarette that is smoked. It is more dangerous than cigarette. So with that alone as well as public health is concerned we’re using that to ban it outright in Ghana. By the middle of this year, that surely has to be done,” he said.

It has been revealed shisha smoking is 5.3% higher than traditional tobacco use. This includes; cigarette which is 2.8%.

According to Mr. Divine Darlington Logoh, a new research conducted by his outfit identified a switch from smoking traditional cigarette to electronic cigarette and and the minted tobacco.
Just like smoking herbal or natural cigarettes, herbal Shisha exposes the smoker to tar and carcinogens as it contains nicotine.

Just like smoking herbal or natural cigarettes, herbal Shisha exposes the smoker to tar and carcinogens as it contains nicotine.