Hoteliers supports ban on smoking

Accra, Nov 26, GNA - Hoteliers in the country on Wednesday declared their support for a total ban on smoking in public places, including their hotel premises and asked Parliament to expedite action and the proposed bill on the ban on smoking at public places. They contended that the ban would ensure the health of their staff as well as their clients and non-smoking customers for a healthy business transactions that would ultimately earn them more customers and business transactions.
The hoteliers expressed these sentiments during stakeholders' sensitisation seminar on the ban on smoking in public and work places, organised by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) for members of the hospitality industry in the country.
"The Ghana Hotels Association takes keen interest in the ban on smoking in public places and would support it in every way", Pastor Jonathan Osei, Assistant National Secretary of the Association, said at the seminar.
He said the ban would not in any way ward off clients but rather attract the many non-smoking citizens to patronise their services. Mr. David Nobel Akiti, Tema Regional Vice President of the Association, said that members should be firm to politely asked recalcitrant smokers who would ignore posters that ban smoking at their premises from entering the place.
Ms Adeline Boateng, Quality Assurance Manager, Ghana Tourist Board, said it was important for employers in the hospitality sector to know that smoke free laws were good for business and when implemented, would be widely respected by employees and increase productivity. She said a smoke-free environment would also lower health care cost, cleaning and ventilation cost, reduce risk as well as lost days due to illnesses caused by second hand smoking.
"It is important for us to realise that the passage of the law will help the economy of Ghana and will not in anyway harm our hotels, restaurants, night clubs, drinking bars as well as our chop bars, Ms Boateng said.
Dr Elias Sory, Director-General of GHS, said there was an international scientific consensus that passive smoking kills and that it was a cause of disease in otherwise healthy non-smokers. He said tobacco contributed to a noxious environment, caused eye irritation, sore throat, cough, headache, respiratory infections and asthma.
Dr. Sory said the propose ban was not to infringe on the rights of smokers but to promote the rights of others. He said "That is why there is the need for a 100 per cent smoke-free environment".
Mrs Sophia Twum Barima, Health Promotion Officer of World Health Organisation, said even though the bill had not gone through Parliament, administratively, government could use its executive power based on article 8 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to ban smoking in public places.
Mrs Edith Wellington, Focal Person for Tobacco Control of GHS, said while the bill was still at cabinet level, hoteliers should be firm to reject offers from tobacco companies luring them into installing sophisticated ventilation systems to aid smoking at their hotel premises. 26 Nov. 08