There are states where tobacco products are very cheap. One of those states is Ghana, where cigarettes are sold in single sticks instead of packs. That’s why children can buy them very easy. For example, well-known brands went for as five Ghana pesewas whilst a pack went for between GH¢1.00 and GH¢1.50p. Meanwhile, in the United States, a pack could go for as much as $5.00, the equivalent of over GH¢7.00.

In Ghana also smoking parents frequently send their children to buy sticks and cigarettes for them and in some cases the children are asked to light the stick before bringing it. In such cases such children are attracted to take a puff. The nicotine component then does the rest of the job on them. And in such a way children become addicted. Often children become even sellers of the smoking products. Usually on table which tops the cigarettes are often sold alongside sweets, drinks and other confectioneries.

The Executive Director of Vision for alternative Development (VALD), Issah Ali, said that the situation is inadmissible and that government and indeed all other stakeholders must join hands to make tobacco and tobacco products non-attractive especially for minors. Issah Ali added that tobacco must neither be sold to minors nor displayed openly alongside edibles. A good number of students in Ghana’s Junior and Senior High Schools are known to attract in one form of smoking or the other before they leave school. A previous survey showed that one-third of Junior High School pupils were exposed to the tobacco smoke even if they were non-smokers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that close to 5million people die every year as a result of tobacco smoke and that somebody dies every 6.5 seconds from tobacco use. Smoking also can reduce life expectancy by 20 to 25 years.

Researchers explained that in case the smokers’ rate will continues to rise and if it will remain unchecked, then tobacco is projected to kill 6million people in 2010, more than HIV, Malaria and TB combined, and over 10 million smokers and passive smokers by 2030 with 70% in developing countries including Ghana. In general, tobacco is said to be a toxic social drug used for non medicinal goals, its extend use could lead to physical, mental harm and other social problems.

Researchers concluded that Ghana need to put in place a law that would control the tobacco industry and the use of cigarettes especially as it affects non smokers too.