A total of GH¢475,000 has been penalized to 19 entertainment venues and restaurants across two regions for breaking the rule that forbids smoking in public areas.
The Central Regions and Greater Accra facilities, which include bars, clubs, and recreation centers, were authorized to pay GH¢25,000 apiece.
This comes after three days of overnight surveillance in Tema, Accra, the Greater Accra Region, and Kasoa, the Central Region, by agents of the Ghana Police Service and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
The goal of the operation was to protect public health and safety in public areas.
To prevent nonsmokers from secondhand smoke, the smoke-free law forbids smoking in public settings, including workplaces, indoor public spaces, public transportation, and recreational areas.
In an interview with the Ghanaian Times in Accra yesterday, Dr. Olivia Agyekumwaa Boateng, the Director of the FDA’s Tobacco and Substance Abuse division, revealed this.
She stated that out of the 51 locations the crew visited, 19 had videotaped and photographed customers breaking the smoke-free rule.
According to Dr. Boateng, any facility found to be at fault has been assessed an administrative fee of GH¢25,000.
“A person who contravenes any part of the public health Act 2012, part six, is liable to a fine more than 750 penalty units (fine GH¢9000) or a term of imprisonment of not more than three years. In the case of a continuing offence, additional fine of 10 penalty units applies for each day during which the offence continuous. An administrative charge of GH¢25,000 as per fees and charges,” she added.
Dr. Boateng emphasized the need to safeguard the environment, stating that smoke free laws promote a clearer and safer atmosphere because secondhand smoke is a “Toxic Air Contaminant” and poses a major health risk to nonsmokers.
She went on, “Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause various health issues, including respiratory infections, asthma, heart diseases, stroke, lung cancer and sudden infant syndrome among others,”
According to Dr. Boateng, the FDA has launched a one-year project countrywide to increase lobbying for people to quit smoking in public areas as part of its efforts to lower smoking rates in the nation.
According to Dr. Boateng, the project on smoke-free policies was developing communication materials in local languages and conducting ongoing research on regulations to guarantee a decrease in public smoking throughout the nation.
She noted that the FDA has been teaching relevant parties about smoking laws and policies, including hoteliers and the Ghana Tourism Authority.
According to the Tobacco Altas report, over 6,700 Ghanaians pass away from tobacco-related illnesses each year, according to Dr. Boateng.
Dr. Boateng urged smokers to give up the habit, noting that tobacco-related illnesses were responsible for 3% of all fatalities in the nation.
He urged the public to assist the organization by reporting instances of smoking in unapproved areas and offered the confidence that the FDA will keep up its promotion of public health safety.
Source: newsthemegh.com