On July, 19, 2012, the Parliamentary Select Committee on
Health, chaired by Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, stated at a workshop on the public
Health Law in Accra that under the law, one could not smoke anywhere if the
next person close by was a non-smoker.
Ghanaians have been banned from smoking around in the
presence of others. This law, seems to be a wise quote said to the hearing of
corpses. Under the law, smoking has been banned in places such as the streets,
homes, vehicles, bars, restaurants and other places of public use. But what do
see, my observations have made it known to me that, the law is been put aside
by Ghanaians who intend to do their own things. Ghana's Parliament, passed into
law a bill banning smoking in public places, after about seven years of intense
lobbying and agitation, on July,11, 2012.
In the enforcement of
the law, Alhaji Muntaka said in bars and restaurants, special places were to be
created for smokers explaining that even in those cases, there had to be
mechanisms in place to ensure that the smoke did not escape. So what are the
owners of these places doing about it. Because
during this Christmas festive, bars, restaurants, and hotels, holds lot of people. These people are
exposed to perceive the smokes of smokers, which is very dangerous to their
health; it constrict the blood vessels, which in turn causes high blood
pressure. Another effect is raising the heart rate, which adds extra stress on
the heart.
The question to ask is
that, is the media and officials not playing their roles well or
Ghanaians did not accept this law? In an interview with a young man who refuse
to reveal is identity told me that, he has not heard any law against smoking
publicly. He explained that, it is not wise for officials to set up such a law.
Because as a Ghanaian, we all have the right to do what we want at any time. He
further, stated that, are the officials going to set law against drinking? With
not, then there is no need for enforcement of such a law against smoking.
The ages of smokers in Ghana ranges from teens to adults. In
most places in the Zongo areas in Ghana, each and every day, people are found
of smoking “ marijuana”. In public uses, such as the lavatory, some people
cannot ease themselves without smoking.
I bars and restaurants the issue remain as the same.
It will be advisable for the general public to put a stop to
the habit of smoking publicly. Because, the new Tobacco Control Law has banned
smoking in public places, tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and
prohibits young people under the age of 21 from buying and selling tobacco
products, among others.
All those involved in the production and distribution of
tobacco are remained to be watch as the law revolves around them too. According
to the new tobacco law, smoking in public will now attract a fine of GHc9, 000
or a three-year imprisonment .
