Ministry of Health/Parliament must expedite passage of alcohol control regulations

Mr Benjamin Anabila, the Chairman of the Alcohol Policy Alliance Ghana (GhanAPA), has called on the Ministry of Health and Parliament to expedite the passage of the draft National Alcohol Control Regulations. He said this would help in reducing the health risks and promote wellness among the citizens.

He stated that the 2023 report of the Mental Health Authority recorded 3,765 cases of alcohol-related health disorders while the National Road Safety Authority 2014 study confirmed alcohol as one of the major factors contributing to road crashes.

Mr Anabila made the call in an interview with the media during the 2nd High-Level Stakeholders’ meeting on the implementation of Ghana’s National Alcohol Policy 2016 in Accra. The meeting was on the theme, “Harnessing the Reset Agenda to stimulate healthy lifestyle, reduce health risks and promote wellness through the passage of the draft National Alcohol Control Regulations in Ghana.

Mr Anabila said Ghana STEPS Report 2023 showed that 22.6 per cent of adults aged 18-69 years were current drinkers of alcohol, with men constituting 30.6 per cent while 14.5 per cent were women.
He indicated that alcohol consumption is linked to various health and disease conditions, including liver disease, cancers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

The Chairman urged the Ministry of Health to urgently move the regulations to Cabinet for onward submission to Parliament for passage and implementation.

Mr Anabila said the GhanAPA had been inspired by the Resetting Ghana Agenda: “Building the Ghana we want together, Section 5.2.1 on Preventing diseases and promoting health and wellness. He said to this end, the Alliance was committed was committed to the comprehensive implementation of the National Health Policy 2020, National Non-communicable Diseases 2022, National Alcohol Policy 2016, Excise Duty (Amendment) (No.2) Acr, 2023 (Act 1108).

Source: GNA