Report by: Ishmael Barfi
According to the Study Report on the Economics of tobacco taxation/Control in Ghana, smoking habit is increasing among low-income groups and in rural areas in Ghana.
The report further stated that, this is as a result of the low cost of tobacco products on the market, hence poor people smoke more than the rich in the country.
The Study Report on the Economics of tobacco taxation/Control in Ghana launched on Monday, 25th January, 2022 in Accra was sponsored by the Vision for Alternative Development (VALD) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
Smoking habit is creasing among low-income groups in Ghana
Speaking at the press launch,Dr. Michael Boachie of the University of Allied Sciences and University of Cape Town revealed that, poor people smoke more than the rich in the country.
Rural areas he observed have higher smoking rates than urban areas in Ghana which is leading to manifestation of diseases, disability,and mortality in the country.
In the Report,Dr. Boachie pointed out that, the cost of tobacco products is one of main contributors to the upsurge in smoking among the poor and rural dwellers.
Selling of single sticks of cigarette instead of of a box according him is encouraging young people as well as low-income earners to smoke.
Smoking habit is creasing among low-income groups in Ghana
Adding that, whenever the price of tobacco products drops, there is a surge in its usage.
Citing the year 2014, he indicated that, 11.2%pf male adulting the lowest income quintile smoked cigarettes compared to 1.2% of their counterparts in the highest income quintile.
Furthermore, he pointed out that, the prevalence rate of smoking among less educated adults increased between 2008 and 2014 for both male and female.
Dr. Boachie therefore called for measures that would cause a sudden increase in tobacco products price.
“If care is not taken, employment opportunities would be afforded first to none smokers” he stressed.
On his part, the Executive Director of programmes, Mr. Labram Musah revealed that most of the tobacco products on the markets were smuggled into the country.
High table displaying the Report after it’s official launch in Accra.
The health effects and the cost to families to him, is increasingly becoming worrying and needs to be looked at by government and key stakeholders in the country.
He therefore called on government to increase the tax component on tobacco products to discourage smoking.
Meanwhile, the Study Report on the Economics of tobacco taxation/control in Ghana recommended for a re ision of the tobacco tax structure in Ghana which will be imperative to exert substantial effect on retail prices,.
Also recommended that,the tax rated should be aligned with the 70%-75%levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), adding that, this will help to make tobacco products cost- prohibitive, therefore becomes unattractive to the population.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
