Accra — The Executive Director of Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), Issah Ali, has said that if government is committed to fighting hard drugs in the country then it must vigorously tackle the tobacco threat since it is the "gateway" to the use of hard drugs.

Issah Ali of the NGO believes the more people use tobacco, the more they are likely to graduate into the use of Marijuana and hard drugs like cocaine and heroin.

Speaking at a Public Forum put together by VALD, Issah Ali therefore appealed to government to ensure the passage into law of the Tobacco Control Bill, which has been pending for some time now. "We are humbly urging the Minister of Health Designate to ensure government presents the Tobacco Control Bill to Parliament by the end of this month - November 2009."

In reaction to a question on what stage the bill has reached, Ben Botwe of the ministry who represented the minister at the forum said the final draft is almost done and that it will soon be laid before parliament.

At his vetting recently, the minister designate, Hon. Benjamin Kumbour, was made to say that he had given up on smoking himself and so it is hoped that he will work diligently to ensure the passage of the law.

Some have wondered why Ghana still does not have a Tobacco Control law even as she was one of the first countries to ratify the UN Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) which is the first global health treaty aimed at protecting present and future generations from the dangers of tobacco.

An insider source told this writer that the issues are more "complicated" than they seem on the surface. The lobbying power of tobacco companies, the source said, cannot be underestimated and that individuals within the corridors of power have their bread buttered from the industry. Governments? around the world are also reluctant to stop cashing in on tobacco trade; a cost benefit analysis is the last thing they would consider when they are looking for immediate cash to spend.

Indeed, according to Issah Ali, the tobacco industry has no right to interfere with Public Health issues of countries and that British America Tobacco (BAT) must "stop deceiving governments with secret letters and weak arguments, to interfere with public health policies, knowing that what they are doing contravenes international laws." The reference here is article 5(3) of the FCTC.

Advocates of tobacco control have been worried about its weakening impact on human health and economic productivity as it is the leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), close to 5 million people die annually as a result of tobacco use and that someone dies every 6.5 seconds from tobacco use. It also reduces life expectancy by 20 to 25 years.

If the trend continues unchecked, tobacco use, it is projected, would kill 6 million people in 2010, more than HIV, Malaria and TB combined, and over 10 million smokers and passive smokers by 2030 with 70% in developing countries including Ghana.

Tobacco is said to be a poisonous social drug used for non medicinal purposes, leading to physical, mental damage and other social problems.

The drug, according to experts, contains over 40 chemicals which cause cancer in various organs of the body. Dr. Promise E. Sefogah of Doctors for Right to Health said at the forum that the effects of these chemicals could lead to several other health complications including impotency and infertility.

Dr. Sefogah said high exposures to second hand smoke suggest the need for strong and effective smoke free policies in Ghana. "There is an urgent need to for the creation of the social and legal climate here in Ghana where tobacoo becomes less desirable, less acceptable and less accessible."

In line with this, he called for higher taxes on tobacco products since it has been proven to "induce quitting, prevent relapse, reduce consumption and prevent initiation."