The prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Ghana is said to kill over 94,000 Ghanaians annually and render others disabled.

The government through the Sin Tax, which has the backing of the World Health Organization (WHO), seeks to control tobacco use.

However, research findings indicate that the tobacco industry is frustrating the implementation of the excise duty amendment law passed by parliament last year which imposes additional cost on tobacco products.

The Director of Programmes at Vision for Alternative Development Ghana, Labran Musah, says the implementation of the sin tax will improve public health and generate considerable revenue for the government.

He argued that the proliferation of tobacco products on the markets has contributed to the marked increase in lung cancers, kidney failures and heart complications, thus, heavily taxing them will deter Ghanaians from using them.

He said, “Government should put in measures like increasing taxes because the taxes we are leveling on the product, for us we think is not punitive enough. The government needs to up the taxes and, if possible increase them by another 50% so we can have the real impact that we want because at the end of it all people who smoke will definitely have some complications”.

Mr. Musah said that would reduce exposure to children, improve public health, and also ensure at least the government gains revenue to take care of those who get ill from tobacco use.