The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that alcohol consumption is responsible for three million deaths globally every year, averaging six deaths every six minutes, and is linked to a wide range of health risks, diseases, and injuries.
According to the WHO, alcohol contributes to 100% of alcohol use disorders, 48% of liver cirrhosis, 27% of traffic injuries, 26% of mouth cancers and pancreatitis, 20% of tuberculosis cases, and smaller but significant percentages of other health conditions, including breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and hypertensive heart disease.
These findings were highlighted at the 2nd High-Level Stakeholders Meeting on the implementation of Ghana‘s National Alcohol Policy (NAP) 2016, organised by the Alcohol Policy Alliance – Ghana (GhanAPA) in Accra.
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The meeting, held under the theme “Harnessing the Reset Agenda to stimulate healthy lifestyle, reduce health risks and promote wellness through the passage of the draft National Alcohol Control Regulations in Ghana,” brought together representatives from the Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Health Service, Mental Health Authority, National Road Safety Authority, Ghana Revenue Authority, West African Alcohol Alliance, and other institutions.
GhanAPA expressed concern over alcohol-related harm in Ghana, citing the Mental Health Authority’s 2023 annual report, which recorded 3,765 cases of alcohol-related mental health disorders and 5,554 cases linked to other psychoactive substances.
The STEPS Report 2023 indicated that 22.6% of adults aged 18–69 are current drinkers, with 30.6% of men and 14.5% of women consuming alcohol. The National Road Safety Authority study of 2014 confirmed alcohol as a major factor in road crashes.
Drawing inspiration from the Resetting Ghana agenda, GhanAPA reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the National Health Policy 2020, National Policy on Non-Communicable Diseases 2022, National Alcohol Policy 2016, and the Excise Duty (Amendment) Act 2023 (Act 1108).
The alliance emphasised that, as mandated by the Public Health Act 851 of 2012, the Health Minister must collaborate with relevant bodies to develop and implement a legislative instrument addressing alcohol harm.
In a joint declaration, meeting participants urged stakeholders to prioritise the comprehensive implementation of the National Alcohol Policy 2016 through coordinated multi-sectoral action.
They called on the government, including the Ministry of Health and Parliament, to ensure the presentation and passage of the draft National Alcohol Control Regulation into law while protecting public health policies from commercial and vested interests.
The declaration also recommended that the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and Parliament allocate adequate and sustainable funding for the policy’s implementation.
