The Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Ghana (VAST-Ghana), a civil society organisation, has called on the government to take immediate action to protect the children of the country from the dangers of vaping (e-cigarette).

It said the alarming revelations published by The Guardian newspaper in August 2025 indicated that young people who use e-cigarettes were almost three times more likely to start smoking cigarettes.

The Guardian further linked vaping to higher risks of asthma, respiratory infections, oral health problems, and mental health.

The VAST-Ghana stated that, “International research shows that about 88 per cent of young vapers use flavoured products, and more than one in four vapes daily, clear signs of addiction.

“Although Ghana lacks large-scale data, community observations reveal a growing trend of flavoured vapes among school children and young adults.”

A statement by Mr Labram Musah, the Executive Director of VAST-Ghana, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said, “The Lancet review confirms what is happening in Ghana; young people are being hooked by vaping products, and many are moving to cigarettes to satisfy their taste.

“Protecting Ghana’s children from nicotine addiction is non-negotiable. Our laws are strong, but weak enforcement is failing the next generation. We need urgent action.”

He said the findings reinforced what global research has long shown: that vaping was not a harmless substitute for smoking; instead, it acted as a gateway, trapping young people into long-term nicotine dependence and making it harder to quit in adulthood.

Mr Musah said the global evidence by The Guardian reflected the realities in the Ghanaian communities, particularly among young people, and that the consistency of the risks was striking, with experts warning that without action, vaping could entrench new generations into addiction.

He stated that despite the legal framework on the ban on recreational sales, advertising, and use of e-cigarettes, the product remained widely available through informal trade, social media platforms, bars, small shops, and stores.

The situation is worse at the community level, where many of these products are mostly brightly coloured, flavoured, and marketed to appeal to children.

The VAST-Ghana demanded that government agencies take swift and decisive action to strengthen the enforcement of existing regulations, while urging the government, through its agencies take the following decisive action.

They should strengthen the enforcement of the national directive on ENDS and launch joint market operations in major cities to confiscate illegal products and prosecute violators.

It also called on the agencies to collaborate with online platforms and telecommunications companies to ban vape sales and related advertising, and intensify market swoops, border controls, online platform accountability, school protection measures, and penalties for violators.

The VAST-Ghana proposed the launch of a well-coordinated nationwide campaign with a dedicated budget to increase awareness and educate the youth about the dangers of shisha and e-cigarettes.

The agencies should leverage schools, media, and community platforms to counter industry misinformation and shift social norms.

They should further collaborate with the Food and Drugs Authority, National Commission on Civic Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, CSOs, and law enforcement to support the awareness campaign and crack down on illicit trade and ensure compliance.

The agencies should conduct regular outreach in schools (primary, secondary, and tertiary) and communities to assess awareness levels, confiscate illegal vapes, and apply penalties as per the Public Health Act, such as fines or seizures.

The government should establish a youth quit line and national campaigns to counter industry marketing.

Mr Musah said, “We cannot predict where these vape trends will lead us in the future – whether to a generation burdened by chronic diseases, economic strain from healthcare costs, or irreversible environmental damage.

“But we must rise now, united, to find solutions before it’s too late. Bold action today will secure a healthier tomorrow.”

He noted that, “Ghana has the legal framework to stop this epidemic; a rapid enforcement drive, followed by sustained regulatory systems, will protect our children and secure our future.”

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