A local not for profit making organization has commended Parliament for passing into law, a bill banning smoking in public places. Parliament on Wednesday unanimously passed the Public Health Bill, after Deputy Minister of Health, Mr. Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, moved the motion for the Third Reading of the bill after it had been taken through a second consideration on the request of the Chairman of the Health Committee of Parliament, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak. “We wish to congratulate Ghana’s Parliament for successfully passing into law a bill banning smoking in public places, after about seven years of intense lobbying and agitation”, the Ghana Rising Movement said in a statement issued on Friday. Ghana Rising made a passionate appeal on Africa Day 25th May, 2012, to the Speaker of Parliament to show her commitment towards the Bill by ensuring its passage. “We recognise the Legislative body’s commitment to work in the interest of the good people of this nation. It is our hope that the President would assent to the bill to make it a law soon to enable the Ministry of Health to submit the necessary Legislative Instruments to Parliament to ensure the implementation of the law”, the statement concluded.