Alcohol advertisements affecting the youth - Labour Officer

Agona Swedru, Oct. 17, GNA - Mr Francis Odoom, Agona District Council of Labour Chairman, has expressed concern about alcoholic advertisements on the radio and television stations saying they were detrimental to the youth. He described the situation as excessive and called on all relevant and interested stakeholders to address the issue. Mr Odoom said: "The future of the nation is at risk, we would not get vibrant youth to take up the labour front if the alcoholic adverts were not reduced or checked". Speaking with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Thursday at Agona Swedru, Mr Odoom asked: "If the youth become alcoholics, who would take over the key positions in the society when we retired". He appealed to the Food and Drugs Board, the Ghana Standards Board and the government to review the situation and evaluate the real impact alcoholic promos and adverts were having on the youth. Mr Odoom said if the adverts could not be stopped at all, something should be done to reduce the promotion on the networks to free the youth from further danger.

According to him, the alcoholic companies must not think about the monetary aspects alone, since it could destroy the life of the youth. He said another worrying trend was the use of young ladies in such promos and adverts, which exposed them to public ridicule. Mr Odoom appealed to the presidential and parliamentary candidates conduct their campaigns in a manner that would promote peace and tranquillity before, during and after the elections. He also urged the media to circumspect in their reportage on the election.