No Smoke, Less Harm: Sustaining Ghana’s economy through Tobacco Harm Reduction Strategy

Every year, tobacco-related illnesses claim the lives of over 6,700 Ghanaians, accounting for 3% of the country’s total deaths. If the current trends persist, approximately 930,000 Ghanaians (3% of the population) will succumb to tobacco-related illnesses by January 2030.

This stark reality highlights a significant health threat and substantial economic burden, as preventable diseases caused by tobacco use exact a devastating toll on individuals, families, and the nation as a whole.

The goal is not to stigmatize tobacco or its users but to expose the substantial economic toll of tobacco use on Ghanaians, particularly on young people, women, and marginalized communities. Despite widespread awareness of its risks, it’s quite baffling to understand the obstacles that hinder individuals from adopting healthier behaviours and seeking innovative solutions to tackle this complex problem and promote harm reduction.

The persistent increase in tobacco usage and mortality rates, despite efforts to restrict access to the product, is baffling. It’s disconcerting to see our state institutions faltering in their mission to protect public health and wellbeing. The disconnect between efforts to curb tobacco use and alarming statistics suggests the need for a more effective and comprehensive approach to address this critical issue.

Basic economics suggests that numbers hold significant power. For instance, 930,000 Ghanaians could constitute a substantial labour force, leading to increased productivity and economic growth. This number could also represent a thriving entrepreneurial sector driven by young innovators and creatives under effective leadership. With aspiring presidents promising jobs and opportunities for youth in the December polls, 930,000 successful ideas could be a game-changer for Ghana’s economy.

Additionally, this figure could represent a growing tax base, providing vital resources for investments in public programs and social services. However, it’s disheartening to consider that this significant number may be lost to tobacco-related illnesses, depriving the country of their meaningful contributions to the economy.

How do we save this 3% Population?

Sweden’s ground-breaking achievement in slashing smoking tobacco rates by a substantial margin in just ten years offers valuable insights. By harnessing the power of data and statistics, the Swedes took bold action to confront the devastating effects of tobacco-related illnesses, particularly among the young. Considering Europe’s aging population, Sweden recognized the imperative need for creative fixes to alleviate the economic burden of premature deaths and secure a healthier future for generations ahead.

The widespread adoption of less harmful nicotine alternatives has largely contributed to Sweden’s progress towards a smoke-free society. The introduction of snus, a smokeless oral tobacco product, marked the beginning of this journey, leading to a significant 55% reduction in smoking rates.

A health report from Sweden in 2023 highlighted the country’s progress in reducing smoking rates from 15% in 2008 to 5.6% in 2023. This is a significant achievement compared to the European Union’s average smoking rate of 23% in the same period. In other words, Sweden’s smoking rate is nearly five times lower than the EU average. Moreover, while many EU countries still struggle with high smoking rates, with approximately one in three people smoking, Sweden has made significant strides, with only 3% of individuals aged 16-29 years smoking, a stark contrast to the 29% of Europeans aged 15-24 years who smoke.

Alternatives like nicotine pouches, vaping, and heat-not-burn products have contributed to a dramatic decline in smoking rates over the period in Sweden.
Unlike traditional cessation methods, these innovative options have provided smokers with more effective tools to quit, resulting in a substantial decrease in smoking-related diseases.

Sweden is a smoke-free country today!

Swedish policymakers embraced this new generation of alternatives as part of a comprehensive approach that combines public health efforts, policy changes, and a significant cultural shift.

Ghana can draw inspiration from Sweden’s example. As a country committed to implementing social interventions for youth empowerment, we must reassess cultural norms, regulatory rules, behaviours, enterprises, and challenging situations that undermine the effectiveness of these initiatives. It would be a misallocation of state resources to divert funds intended for Free Senior High Education into addressing preventable tobacco-related health issues, for instance. Moreover, a surge in tobacco-related patients would place an unsustainable burden on the national health insurance scheme, exacerbating the situation.

A pragmatic and sustainable solution would be for the government to encourage the substitution of high-risk tobacco products with reduced-risk options, especially for smokers who are finding it challenging to quit. Following Sweden’s lead, if smokers in Ghana had access to these alternatives that eliminate combustion, pose reduced harm compared to smoking, and still meet their nicotine needs, significant strides could be taken toward realizing a smoke-free society. By providing smokers with safer options, we can make substantial progress in reducing the harmful effects of smoking and move closer to a future where smoking is a smoke-free Ghana.

Fortunately, Sweden’s successful experience provides a valuable model for learning and achieving this goal with relative ease, offering a clear blueprint for effective implementation and incorporation of harm reduction strategy into the national policy framework.