Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development Ghana (VAST Ghana) has strongly opposed the Ghana Football Association's (GFA) renewed call for the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to lift restrictions on alcohol sponsorship in sports. The civil society organisation argues that commercial gains must not override child protection and public health. VAST Ghana is leading other groups opposed to the proposed changes, warning that lifting the restrictions could expose children to harmful alcohol marketing.
The GFA President, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, renewed the Association's position on November 4, 2026, arguing that the restrictions limit commercial opportunities and deprive Ghanaian football of potential investment. The Association reportedly cited the loss of a proposed sponsorship agreement with Guinness Ghana, valued at more than US$5 million annually, as one of the consequences of the restrictions. However, VAST Ghana believes the financial needs of football should not override the country's responsibility to protect children from alcohol exposure.
VAST Ghana argues that the FDA's restrictions should not be interpreted as a ban on alcohol sales or the industry's right to operate in Ghana. Instead, it says the regulations are designed to limit children's exposure to alcohol advertising, particularly through activities such as football that attract significant numbers of young audiences. The organisation cited the FDA Guidelines for Advertisement of Regulated Products, which prohibit advertisements from associating alcoholic beverages with any sporting activity.
The organisation also challenged arguments surrounding the Ghana Sports Fund Act, 2025 (Act 1159), insisting that the legislation does not automatically authorise alcohol sponsorship in sporting activities. According to VAST Ghana, the FDA derives its authority to regulate alcohol advertising from the Public Health Act, 2012, rather than the Sports Fund Act. The organisation maintains that the Sports Fund Act does not expressly repeal, amend or suspend the FDA's existing regulatory powers.
VAST Ghana invoked a Supreme Court decision delivered on June 19, 2024, which dismissed a legal challenge to the FDA's directive restricting well-known personalities, including celebrities, from endorsing alcoholic beverages. The court upheld the FDA's guidelines, which VAST Ghana said were found not to be unreasonably excessive or contrary to the 1992 Constitution. The organisation believes the ruling reinforces the authority of the FDA to regulate alcohol advertising in the interest of public health.
VAST Ghana further backed its position with statistics highlighting alcohol consumption among adults and adolescents in Ghana. According to the Ghana WHO STEPwise approach to NCD Risk Factor Surveillance (STEP), there are concerns about alcohol consumption among Ghanaian adolescents. The organisation believes this underscores the need to maintain existing safeguards and protect children from alcohol exposure.
The organisation urged Parliament not to support any changes that could weaken the regulator's mandate, emphasising the significant public health implications of relaxing the restrictions. VAST Ghana's statement was emphatic about the need to maintain existing safeguards, arguing that the public health implications of relaxing the restrictions are significant. The organisation's position is that Ghana must not sacrifice public health protections to create commercial opportunities for football.
Key points
- VAST Ghana opposes GFA's call to lift FDA restrictions on alcohol sponsorship in sports.
- Organisation cites risks to children and public health as reasons for maintaining restrictions.
- Supreme Court ruling reinforces FDA's authority to regulate alcohol advertising.
