A coalition of health advocates in Ghana, known as the Ghana Alcohol Policy Alliance (GhanAPA), has set a six-month deadline for the government to pass draft regulations on alcohol control. The regulations, which aim to govern how alcohol is advertised, sold, and marketed to young people, have been pending for ten years. The National Alcohol Policy was launched in 2016, but without enforceable regulations, it has remained largely symbolic. GhanAPA held its third high-level stakeholders meeting on September 24, 2026, to push for the passage of the draft regulations.
The absence of regulations has left areas such as alcohol advertising, sales to minors, retail licensing, and product labelling without binding national rules. Stakeholders are calling for specific measures, including a comprehensive ban on alcohol advertising between 6am and 8pm, a ban on celebrity endorsements, restricted sales hours, and an enforced minimum purchase age of 23. They also want a prohibition on alcohol sales near schools. The advocates believe that these measures will help reduce the negative impact of alcohol on young people and communities.
The Ghana Alcohol Policy Alliance has adopted an 11-point declaration calling on the Ministry of Health, the Attorney-General's Department, and Parliament to fast-track the passage of the draft National Alcohol Regulations. The declaration also recommends raising the excise tax on alcoholic beverages to at least 40 percent of the retail price, with annual adjustments for inflation. Additionally, stakeholders want at least 15 percent of the revenue to be set aside for prevention, treatment, rehabilitation programs, and civil society monitoring of how the regulations are implemented.
The lack of enforceable rules has meant that alcohol advertising and youth access have gone largely unchecked for a decade. Communities near schools and young people exposed to alcohol marketing on television, radio, and social media have had no legal shield beyond a policy document with no force of law. The advocates believe that the passage of the regulations will provide a legal framework for enforcing restrictions on alcohol marketing and sales.
Stakeholders have called on GhanAPA to convene an urgent Technical Committee meeting to designate a core group tasked specifically with pushing the draft regulations toward Parliament. The declaration also proposes strengthening the National Multisectoral Coordinating Committee on Alcohol Control to oversee implementation once the regulations are passed. Furthermore, stakeholders want the committee to publish an annual public scorecard tracking progress.
The six-month deadline set by advocates is a target rather than a government commitment. No specific date has been given for when the draft regulations will actually be tabled in Parliament. The declaration also calls for a review of the 2016 policy to align it with international best-practice frameworks, such as SAFER and Best Buys, alongside Ghana's own Alcohol Action Plan.
The passage of the regulations is crucial for Ghana's efforts to reduce the negative impact of alcohol on public health. The advocates believe that the regulations will help prevent alcohol-related problems, particularly among young people. The Ghana Alcohol Policy Alliance will continue to push for the passage of the regulations and ensure that the government is held accountable for its actions.
Key points
- Health advocates in Ghana demand regulations on alcohol control within six months
- The regulations aim to govern how alcohol is advertised, sold, and marketed to young people
- The passage of the regulations will provide a legal framework for enforcing restrictions on alcohol marketing and sales
