The World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling on African governments to strengthen public health policies and guard against interference from the alcohol industry.
The call comes as delegates from 20 countries, including Ghana, convene in Nairobi, Kenya, for a regional workshop focused on addressing the harmful use of alcohol.
The event aims to accelerate the implementation of the WHO’s SAFER initiative—a technical package designed to mitigate alcohol-related harm.
Participants raised concerns about how commercial interests of the alcohol industry are undermining national efforts to protect public health.
According to the WHO, alcohol consumption in the African region is among the highest in the world and is linked to more than 60 diseases, including liver disease, cancer, and mental health conditions.
The workshop recommended stronger legislation, enforcement of advertising restrictions, and better taxation policies to control alcohol availability and consumption.
Health experts also stressed the need for evidence-based advocacy and multisectoral collaboration to protect vulnerable populations, especially young people.
Report by Elizabeth Yeboah Akyemaa for Asaase News in Greater Accra
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