Chief Executive of Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority, Delese Mimi Darko emphasized the positive impact of tax policies on products like tobacco and alcohol, which have adverse public health effects.
Speaking at the first National Forum on Tobacco Taxation in Accra, themed “Strengthening the Evidence for Effective Tobacco Taxation for Health and Development in Ghana,” organized by Vision for Alternative Development – Ghana (VALD-Ghana), she highlighted that these taxes not only promote health equity and prevent diseases but also save lives and generate revenue for the national budget.
This revenue, she noted, could bolster Universal Health Coverage efforts.
Madam Darko underscored the significance of Ghana‘s adoption of the Excise Duty Amendment Act, 2023 (Act 1096), transitioning from an ad-valorem tax structure to a mixed tax structure for tobacco products.
This change, she explained, aligns with global standards set by the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and aims to curb youth initiation by making tobacco less affordable.
Globally, tackling tobacco use is pivotal to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG Target 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by one-third by 2030.
Madam Darko emphasized that beyond health benefits, tobacco control efforts in Ghana also contribute to poverty reduction, economic strengthening, and sustainable development.
Deputy Commissioner of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Dr. Charles Addai highlighted that the Excise Duty (Amendment) Act 2023 (Act 1108) supports revenue generation and aims to reduce the consumption of harmful products like tobacco through increased tax rates and the inclusion of e-cigarettes in the tax regime.