VAST-Ghana urges stricter sugar-sweetened beverage regulations to protect youth health 

GHANA – The Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST-Ghana), a civil society organisation, has urged the government to strengthen enforcement of existing laws on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and close regulatory gaps that expose young people to health risks. 

In a statement marking International Youth Day under the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” VAST-Ghana Executive Director Labram M. Musah called for higher, earmarked taxes on harmful products.  

He noted such measures would safeguard youth health while advancing global targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3.4 on reducing premature deaths from non-communicable diseases, SDG 3.5 on preventing substance abuse, and SDG 3.a on tobacco control. 

The organisation raised concern over the rising consumption of SSBs and ultra-processed foods (UPFs), describing them as cheap, easily available, and aggressively marketed to children and young adults. These products, it warned, are major contributors to obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related diseases in Ghana. 

Citing outcomes from the African Health Sovereignty Summit held in Ghana, VAST-Ghana emphasised that higher taxes on harmful products deter youth initiation, lower consumption in vulnerable groups, and generate additional revenue for prevention and rehabilitation programmes. 

The group also called for the introduction of clear front-of-pack warning labels to help consumers make informed decisions and avoid misleading advertising.  

It further urged action to curb shisha smoking, vaping, alcohol misuse, and excessive sugar intake, stressing the importance of youth involvement in advocacy campaigns. 

VAST-Ghana reaffirmed its dedication to partnering with schools, communities, faith-based organisations, and the media to promote awareness. It described young people as “the heartbeat of the nation,” pledging to continue efforts to protect them from harmful industries. 

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