Health advocates intensify calls for immediate action as new data reveals alarming consumption patterns among schoolchildren, with some reporting dependency as early as age 10
Ghana is facing mounting pressure to ban sachet alcohol and miniature bottles following Nigeria’s controversial enforcement of similar restrictions in January, as new evidence emerges of what health advocates describe as a deepening youth addiction crisis fueled by cheap, easily concealed high-strength spirits.
The Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST-Ghana) has intensified its campaign for immediate regulatory action, pointing to recent research showing that approximately 13 percent of Ghanaian adolescents consume alcohol excessively, with initial exposure now occurring as early as age 10 in some communities.
“This is not just a health issue; it is a threat to our national security and future human capital. A nation that allows its children to be targeted by predatory marketing is a nation sacrificing its future.”
The advocacy group’s Executive Director, Labram Musah, described Nigeria’s resumption of nationwide enforcement in January 2026 as “a shining example” for Ghana and the broader West African region. Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has moved forward with the ban despite fierce opposition from manufacturers and labor unions, who warned of massive job losses.
Ghana’s government has signaled a willingness to act. On February 3, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga announced plans to introduce an Alcohol Control Regulation Bill in Parliament, targeting marketing practices that expose young people to alcohol promotions. However, VAST-Ghana argues this doesn’t go far enough.
“These small, inexpensive, and easy-to-hide packages make high-strength alcohol—often 43 percent or more—easily accessible to underage users, including school children who can conceal them in pockets,” the organization stated in its latest appeal to government.
The Nigerian Precedent: Enforcement Amid Controversy
Nigeria’s enforcement has been anything but smooth. After years of delays and extensions dating back to a 2018 agreement, NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye faced protests, calls for her suspension, and accusations of economic sabotage when enforcement finally began in January.
In defending the action, Professor Adeyeye cited troubling reports from schools, including one principal who reported that a student claimed he could not study for exams without first consuming sachet alcohol. “We cannot continue to sacrifice the wellbeing of Nigerians for economic gain,” she declared.
In Ghana, the public health case appears equally compelling. According to Ghana’s STEPwise Survey, over 30 percent of adults consume alcohol, contributing to premature deaths, road accidents, domestic violence, and rising non-communicable diseases. The situation among young people is particularly alarming.
VAST-Ghana is calling for Ghana to adopt the World Health Organization’s SAFER technical package, a comprehensive framework that includes strengthening restrictions on alcohol availability, advancing drink-driving countermeasures, facilitating access to treatment, enforcing advertising bans, and raising prices through taxation.
The advocacy group emphasized that Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) already possesses the legal mandate under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851) to impose such a ban through administrative measures, without waiting for prolonged parliamentary processes. They commended recent FDA actions restricting alcohol advertising and celebrity endorsements but argued that banning sachet and miniature bottles is “long overdue.”
“The normalisation of sachet alcohol in transport terminals, community gatherings, and even near schools creates a toxic environment for our youth and children.”
The economic argument against the ban remains potent. In Nigeria, labor unions and manufacturers have warned of thousands of job losses and billions in lost investments. Ghana’s alcohol sector is projected to grow by 13 percent annually according to a 2025 market report—a trend VAST-Ghana describes as evidence of a deepening addiction crisis rather than economic progress.
Regional precedents extend beyond Nigeria. Countries including Uganda and Malawi have implemented similar bans, reportedly reducing the visibility of high-potency spirits and easing alcohol-related public health burdens. Ghana participated in a WHO African Region workshop in Accra in April 2025, where 15 countries identified priority alcohol control measures aligned with the SAFER framework.
The World Health Organization estimates that alcohol contributes to 2.6 million deaths globally each year and is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions. In Africa, the burden is particularly severe, with the WHO African Region recording one of the highest rates of alcohol-related deaths globally—averaging 70 deaths per 100,000 people.
As Ghana’s parliament prepares to debate the Alcohol Control Regulation Bill, health advocates are watching closely to see whether the country will follow Nigeria’s controversial but decisive path, or seek a middle ground that balances public health imperatives with economic concerns.
For now, VAST-Ghana’s message to policymakers remains unequivocal: “By banning sachet alcohol and adopting comprehensive alcohol control measures, Ghana could build a healthier, wealthier, and more resilient future.”
Related Links:
About the WHO SAFER Initiative | Ghana’s Alcohol Control Bill | Report on Adolescent Alcohol Consumption in Ghana
