Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have rallied in support of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA)’s ban preventing celebrities from alcohol advertisements, in aim to protect children from using alcohol.
They argued that children might be driven into taking alcohol due to the influence celebrities wield over them, through alcohol advertisements.
“We all know the influence some known celebrities have on our children with their music…What makes us think that if any celebrity advertises an alcoholic beverage, children and young people would not rush to buy and drink?
“When celebrities talk, children listen and the alcohol industry being very much aware is bent on using celebrities to make more profit as they introduce our children to this unwholesome practice,” they noted.
In a release on Monday, signed by the National Coordinator of the Ghana NCD Alliance, Labram M. Musah, and copied to ghananewsonline.com.gh, he argued that celebrities’ clamor for the repeal of the alcohol advertisement ban is selfish, since it will only favor them. Therefore, the need to kick against it.
“Celebrities get their money to develop themselves at the detriment of the poor. How many celebrities even drink these alcoholic beverages, yet they want our children to become alcoholics.
“The selfish interest of some few celebrities will not be entertained, and would therefore be resisted by CSOs and well-meaning Ghanaians,” he said.
He added that, there are severe health implications of alcoholism which children should protected from. In lieu of that, the FDA’s ban on celebrity alcohol endorsements is on the right path to ensure that.
“Why will you expose our children to a product that affects almost every aspect of human life; cancers, heart failures, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, among others, including domestic violence, road crashes and abject poverty”.
Mr Musah asserted that, the ban, due to its benevolence has been commended by the international community, giving another reason to preserve it.
“This singular action by FDA has raised the profile on Ghana among the international community and has been applauded because it is one of the Best Buys of the World Health Organization (WHO).
“If the global community is commending Ghana for this singular efforts, there is no turning back,” he stated.
He advised celebrities to rather use their huge influence to advocate for “positivity” proper health and wellbeing.
Source: ghananewsonline.com.gh