Ghana must implement immediate and rigorous enforcement measures to protect its children from the escalating dangers of electronic cigarettes (vaping), a civil society group, Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST-Ghana), has admonished.

The organisation issued a press release on October 1, demanding a decisive government crackdown, citing recent global reports that expose the severe health consequences and addictive nature of vapes, particularly among non-smokers.

VAST-Ghana stresses that while Ghana has strong laws in place, "weak enforcement is failing the next generation," allowing e-cigarettes to be widely and illegally sold to youth via informal trade and social media platforms.

Global Data Reveals 'Striking' Gateway Risk

VAST-Ghana's urgent call is spurred by alarming international evidence, including a major report published by The Guardian on August 19, 2025.

This research confirmed the gateway effect of vaping:

• Triple Risk of Smoking: Young people who use e-cigarettes are almost three times more likely to start smoking conventional cigarettes in the future.
• Health Hazards: Vaping is linked to higher risks of asthma, respiratory infections, oral health problems, and mental health harms.

Executive Director of VAST-Ghana, Labram Musah, emphasized that this global evidence reflects a dangerous reality unfolding in Ghanaian communities.

“Protecting Ghana’s children from nicotine addiction is non-negotiable,” stated Mr. Musah. “The Lancet review confirms what we already see here: young people are being hooked by vaping products, and many are moving to cigarettes to satisfy their addiction. Our laws are strong, but weak enforcement is failing the next generation. We need urgent action.”

Global experts echoed this concern, with Su Golder, Associate Professor in Health Science at the University of York, noting: “The consistency in the evidence is striking. Through multiple studies, young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke in the future.”

Illicit Trade Undermining Public Health Act

Ghana’s legal framework, governed by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), is clear: Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), including vapes, are illegal for recreational sales, advertising, and use. Non-tobacco products are permitted only under strict medical supervision for cessation.

However, VAST-Ghana notes that illicit trade and unchecked online sales are eroding Ghana’s hard-won tobacco control gains.

• Targeting Youth: These illegal products are often brightly colored, flavored, and marketed to appeal directly to children, a tactic the World Health Organization (WHO) warns is deliberate to lure children into addiction. International research shows about 88% of young vapers use flavored products.
• Wider Crisis: The issue is not limited to youth. A Guardian-reported study in October 2024 revealed that one million people in England now vape despite never having been regular smokers, with rates highest among 18- to 24-year-olds—a surge mirrored in Africa.

The harm extends beyond health, according to Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health, who warns the disposable devices, often containing lithium-ion batteries, contribute to the e-waste crisis and raise fire risks.

“The rise in teen vaping in recent years is very concerning and needs urgent action... They are addictive, harmful, and unsafe for children. No child should be exposed to them,” Ms. Cheeseman warned.

VAST-Ghana Demands Decisive Government Action

VAST-Ghana is demanding that government agencies take swift and coordinated action to stop the spread of this epidemic and secure a healthier future for Ghana’s youth.

The organization called for the following decisive steps:

1. Enforcement Crackdown: Strengthen enforcement of the national directive on ENDS by launching joint market operations in major cities to confiscate illegal products and prosecute violators.
2. Digital Ban: Collaborate with online platforms and telecommunications companies to ban vape sales and related advertising.
3. National Awareness Campaign: Launch a well-coordinated, budget-backed nationwide campaign through schools and media to educate youth about the dangers of shisha and e-cigarettes, countering industry misinformation.
4. Community Measures: Conduct regular outreach in schools (primary, secondary, and tertiary) to confiscate illegal vapes and apply penalties under the Public Health Act.

VAST-Ghana also urged Ghanaian healthcare professionals and medical associations to "speak out boldly," sharing documented frontline experiences of rising asthma, respiratory infections, and nicotine dependencies among youth to strengthen the call for intervention.

“Ghana has the legal framework to stop this epidemic; a rapid enforcement drive, followed by sustained regulatory systems, will protect our children and secure our future,” Mr. Musah concluded.