BACKGROUND: While smoking prevalence is decreasing in developed regions, the African region faces an anticipated increase due to weak enforcement, industry interference, and inadequate regulatory measures. Ghana has taken steps toward addressing this public health challenge by ratifying the WHO FCTC in 2004, enacting the Public Health Act of 2012, and the Tobacco Control Regulations of 2016 resulting in a prevalence of less than 5% of tobacco use. Historically, Ghana relied on a unitary ad valorem tax system for tobacco products. To align with WHO-FCTC recommendations and the ECOWAS directive, Ghana introduced a mixed excise tax system, that's Excise Duty (Amendment) Act, 2023 (Act 1108). This study examines the tobacco industry and its allied organizations' influence in the passage and implementation of this legislation.
METHODS: A mixed-methods approach combined desk reviews and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. Secondary data, reports, and policy documents from government, academic, and CSOs sources were analyzed alongside media content to assess the industry's influence on public perception. Qualitative content analysis was utilized to identify patterns and themes related to tobacco industry interference in policy discourse.
RESULTS: The study revealed that the tobacco industry allied organizations like the Institute of Liberty, Policy, and Innovation, and the Harm Reduction Alliance of Ghana, influenced public opinion and policymakers by exaggerating economic hardships and promoting e-cigarettes under the guise of harm reduction. Some organizations like the American Chamber of Commerce Ghana delved into the economic argument to call for a downward revision of the tax. BAT Ghana played a significant role, presenting unsubstantiated research to delay tax reforms while emphasizing e-cigarettes as safer alternatives. CSOs countered these narratives by emphasizing public health benefits and debunking industry misinformation
CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the industry's tactics to manipulate legislative processes and divert attention from evidence-based policies, threatening Ghana's progress in tobacco control.