Pute (GAR), June 3, GNA - Studies by the World Health Organization had proven that bans on advertisement of tobacco consumption in some countries had drastically reduce the burden of smoking by 16 per cent in countries that had taken legislative steps to stem the tide. "I will therefore urge the government of Ghana to take a decisive step to legislate the ban on tobacco advertising, marketing and sponsorship. Half measures are not enough since when one form of advertising is banned, the tobacco industry simply shifts its vast resources to another channel".

Ms. Sophia Twum-Barima, a WHO representative said at a community durbar organized by the Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate as part of activities marking this years' world Tobacco. The theme for the celebration is; "Tobacco Free Youth".

She noted that a recent study by WHO on children between 13-15 years in schools worldwide had shown that more than 55 per cent of students reported seeing advertisements for cigarettes on billboards while 20 per cent owned an item or logo of cigarette brand. "It is for this reason that, WHO is calling for a ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship as a powerful tool we can use to protect the world's youth", she added.

Ms Twum-Barima said as we celebrated the world no-tobacco day, WHO was urging all governments to impose a complete ban to break the marketing net to protect the over 1.8 billion young population exposed to the menace.

Dr Edward Antwi, Greater Accra Regional Health Director noted that, 18.1 per cent of people lived in homes where others smoke in their presence, 54.2 per cent think smoking should be banned from public places while 45.1 per cent think smoking by others is harmful to them. He said greater efforts were therefore, needed to ensure that policies and programmes were stipulated to stem the tide of tobacco epidemic adding, "We have to be vigilant to protect our youth". Dr Antwi called on the youth to also get involve in the campaign to educate their peers on the dangers of tobacco.