Oops Nite Club, situated at Bubiashie in Accra, seems to be taking a lead role in the anti-tobacco campaign. It has banned smoking at the club. To affirm the decision, cigarette packs and souvenirs bearing inscriptions on tobacco were destroyed there on Wednesday at a ceremony presided over by Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service. Prof. Akosa, who has played a pioneering role to get a legislation banning the smoking of tobacco at public places passed, commended the nite club for blazing the trail by voluntarily taking the bold initiative. He said since the passage by the World Health Organisation of the convention on tobacco control, the tempo on education against smoking at public places in the country has increased. "Most people will not do this unless compelled by law and so this gesture is commendable," he emphasised. The management of the club explained on Wednesday that the decision not to allow smoking in the club was informed by concerns expressed by health experts regarding the dangers inherent in smoking, especially for passive smokers. The owner of the club, Kofi Amoakohene who himself has been smoking for the past 38 years, said protection of customers health was more important than the monetary gains. "We think that saving the lives of our customers, especially the passive smokers is of paramount importance to us", he said. Culled from The Ghanaian Times