Furthermore, because of the health consequences of smoking shisha, according to research, a session of shisha is equivalent to smoking over 100 cigarettes, it has become more expedient to ban it rather than regulate it, according to the release, adding that many of the products were also illegally sold because they did not meet the required standards.
According to research conducted by the Ghana Health Service, the majority of the country's youth have switched from traditional tobacco cigarettes to e-cigarettes and shisha, with the rate of young people smoking the products increasing to 5.3 percent, higher than the traditional tobacco use rate of 2.8 percent.
Despite the prohibition on tobacco-related ads and the legislation against smoking in public areas, the use of tobacco and its connected products is on the rise in Ghana, according to the release.
"A research supported by VALD-Ghana on 'The Economics of Tobacco Control/Taxation in Ghana' indicated that the young and women in particular are becoming addicted to flavoured tobacco/cigarettes and shisha due of its enticing aroma."
"Many people believe that shisha is safer than cigarettes since it comes into touch with water," it said. "However, the American Lung Association has found at least 82 harmful compounds and carcinogens in hookah/shisha smoke," it said.
According to the press release, smoking shisha increases the risk of oral cancer, lung cancer, and heart disease, among other things; additionally, the body fluids exchanged with multiple people sharing one pipe that is not cleaned properly or at all presents another avenue for infectious disease transmission.
"However, we feel it is time we take huge measures that go beyond education and sensitization," said the VALD-Ghana and its partners, referring to the FDA's efforts to promote education and awareness about the adverse consequences of tobacco use.
"As a result, we ask the Ministry of Health and the Food and Drug Administration to commence the process of prohibiting shisha products in Ghana as soon as possible." Many nations, including Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Cameroon, have taken aggressive moves to prohibit the use of shisha in their countries due to the public health harm it poses to their children and young."
The press statement also asked for a concerted effort to educate students in schools, particularly in the second cycle and higher institutions, about the harmful consequences of tobacco smoking on their health.
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