EFFECTS OF TOBACCO MAKES
HEADLINES AGAIN
A feature by Gideon Sackitey
Ghanaians are not known to be heavy smokers as we
all know pertains in some western countries; and
within the West African sub Region , even though
there is no reliable statistics on tobacco use, many
agree that tobacco use is not so high except in
certain French speaking countries.
However, medical experts recently have come up with
information that more people are smoking than ever
before. They said students, who form a large number
of the nation's population were beginning to smoke
at much tender ages; some as young as nine.
Parents are certainly
disturbed about the issue, but have found it rather
difficult to monitor their wards, except when they
are on vacation.
According to a former
Minister of Health, most smoking starts early in
life, and children and teenagers may know less about
the health effects of smoking than adults.
Children and teenagers may not have the capacity to
properly assess information that they possess about
the health effects of smoking, the Health Research
Unit of the Ministry of Health revealed the
following interesting statistics.
The total economic cost to the nation is
incalculable, though the registered tobacco
companies are known to pay taxes of $30 million
cedis to the state annually. British America
Tobacco (BAT) last year contributed $30 million to
the economy through taxes and levies paid on
cigarette products it produces in the country.
The $30 million covered 90% of the market and
therefore government lost taxes on the rest (10%) to
smuggling of cigarette products into the country,
estimated to be about $3.5 million.
The number of deaths as a result of the health risks
it poses are also known to kill thousands on an
annual basis.
A study conducted last
year by the Ministry of Health showed that it costs
between $300 and $400 to control one case of a
non-complicated diabetes mellitus and £40,000.00 for
a renal transplant and $9000 per person per year for
dialysis for example. This costs to a Ghanaian is
very substantive and only few can afford. TOBACCO
use is the major identified risk factor for the
cause of these diseases among others.
As stated, health experts have attributed the
situation to the cheap, fake and smuggled cigarettes
that find their way into the country through
unapproved routes along the coutry's porous borders.
Players are pointing towards Ghana's eastern
neighbour, Togo as the worst culprit of smuggled
cigarette into the country.
They argue that Bond Street and Marlboro, key brands
of Philip Morris International (PMI), a Switzerland
based cigarette manufacturer, is docked in Togo in
excess of that country's requirements while "the
rest is transported by road into Ghana labelled as
sandals, trainers or sometimes as shoes", one trader
told this reporter.
Indeed, Ghana Customs, Excise and Preventive Service
(CEPS) last August arrested the largest single
smuggled cigarette haul in Africa. It was also
reputed to be the second largest in the world. After
several investigations for the owners which proved
futile, CEPS opted to destroy the product. Some
people as usual did not like the idea though.
According to CEPS sources, PMI then offered to fund
the destruction of the consignment. This pushed the
two institutions together to work under a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) among which the two parties
established a broad framework to confront the issue
of contraband tobacco products including counterfeit
and other illegal trade.
But just after two weeks, this has not gone down
well with tobacco industry players notably British
American Tobacco Company Limited have questioned the
basis for the deal stressing that government and
CEPS should take a second look at the entire
document.
The MOU, signed on November 7, 2006, as said seeks
to eliminate the illicit trade of tobacco products,
including the distribution and sale of counterfeit
and smuggled cigarettes into the country.
Tony Okwoju, Corporate Affairs Director of BAT said
his company welcomes the essence of the MOU, "but
this should lead ultimately to a complete reduction
or elimination of the presence of Bond Street
cigarette, a key brand of Philip Morris from the
Ghanaian market."
Mr Okwoju asked if it was not strange that PMI, a
company with no known registered office or contact
in Ghana has gone into such an agreement with CEPS.
He indicated that "smuggling is costing the
government approximately 45 billion cedis per annum.
Hence anything that will honestly help to stop this
is welcome"
Visits to vendors in the country showed that Bond
Street, was common on the Ghanaian market even
though it had been boldly listed for sale only in
Togo with health warnings stated in French.
Some of the vendors could not display the product
because according to them, "we do not want trouble."
BAT's Okwoju said, PMI's statement at the signing
indicating that they have been conducting research
in Ghana "should show them that that the cigarettes
most smuggled into Ghana is Bond Street, saying for
more than 10 years, Bond Street has been illegally
brought into Ghana and openly sold.
From a negligible figure in 1995, it (PMI) currently
controls 10 per cent of the market share translating
into more than 25 billion cedis in loss of revenue
to the state.
Okwoju says the MoU places too much responsibility
and commitment in the path of CEPS.
CEPS Public Affairs Manager Ms Annie Anipa, said the
MoU with PMI is out to buttress CEPS's interest in
stamping out smuggling and counterfeiting of the
product on the Ghanaian market.
Expectations from the public is that government
would wake up quickly to the reality of this
apparent danger that PMI seeks to unleash on
Ghanaians. Some even argue that government should
cease taking monies from tobacco companies and find
other means of raising capital for development.
A feature by Gideon Sackitey
