The World Health Organisation (WHO) says alcohol consumption causes three million deaths every year, while six deaths are recorded every six minutes.
It said alcohol had been widely used in many cultures for centuries, and it was associated with significant health risks and harms, linked to multiple diseases, injuries, and premature deaths.
It noted that it caused 100 per cent of alcohol use disorders, 18 per cent of suicides, 18 per cent of interpersonal violence, 27 per cent of traffic injuries, and 13 per cent of epilepsy.
The rest were 48 per cent of liver cirrhosis, 26 per cent of mouth cancers, 26 per cent of pancreatitis, 20 per cent of tuberculosis, 11 per cent of colorectal cancer, five per cent of breast cancer and seven per cent of hypertensive heart disease.
This came to light 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.
The meeting was on 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.”
It was attended by representatives from the Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Health Service, National Health Insurance Authority, Mental Health Authority, National Road Safety Authority, Ghana Revenue Authority, and West African Alcohol Alliance, among other institutions.
The GhanAPA expressed concern about alcohol related harm in Ghana, stating that the Mental Health Authority, in its 2023 annual report, recorded 3,765 cases of alcohol-related mental health disorders and 5,554 cases attributed to other psychoactive substances.
It said the STEPS Report 2023 showed that 22.6 per cent of adults aged 18-69 years were current drinkers, with men constituting 30.6 per cent, while 14.5 per cent were women.
It said the National Road Safety Authority study in 2014 confirmed alcohol as one of the major factors contributing to road crashes.
The GhanAPA said it had been inspired by the Resetting Ghana: “Building the Ghana we want together, Section 5.2.1 on Preventing diseases and promoting health and wellness.”
It said it was therefore committed to the implementation of the National Health Policy 2020, National Policy on Non-Communicable Diseases 2022, National Alcohol Policy 2016, Excise Duty (Amendment) (No.2) Act, 2023 (Act 1108).
“As mandated by the Public Health Act 851 of 2012, calling on the Health Minister to collaborate with relevant bodies on the development and implementation of a Legislative Instrument to address alcohol harm,” the GhanAPA stated.
The participants at the meeting, in a declaration, requested stakeholders and duty bearers to prioritise the comprehensive implementation of the National Alcohol Policy 2016 through a coordinated multi-sectoral action.
They called on the government (Ministry of Health, Parliament) to ensure the presentation and passage of the draft National Alcohol Control Regulation into law, while urging the government to protect public health policies and the National Alcohol Policy from commercial and vested interests.
The participants recommended that the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and Parliament to allocate adequate and sustainable financing for the implementation of the National Alcohol Policy 2016
