The organisation recommended the immediate issuance of a directive prohibiting all alcohol industry involvement in educational programmes and school events, citing national policies and global best practices, including the World Health Organisation’s SAFER Technical Package.

“The Ministry of Health (MoH), Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana Education Service (GES), and Ghana Health Service (GHS) should intervene decisively to prohibit alcohol industry involvement in school-based education and campaigns,” VAST-Ghana stated.

Mr. Laram Musah, Executive Director of VAST-Ghana, said alcohol companies often disguise themselves as corporate social responsibility actors to exploit young people, normalise alcohol consumption, and delay effective policy action.

He noted that such industry involvement violates FDA Guidelines on Advertisement of Regulated Products and undermines public health efforts to combat alcohol-related harm among vulnerable youth.

“Despite claims of educating on risky behaviours, these programmes serve as greenwashing, downplaying harms and emphasising ‘responsible drinking’ over abstinence,” the statement said.

VAST-Ghana highlighted the severity of alcohol-related public health risks in Ghana. According to the 2023 Ghana STEPS Survey, 22.6 per cent of adults aged 18–69 are current drinkers, including 14.1 per cent of 18–29-year-olds. Among school-going adolescents aged 11–19, 12.6 per cent report current alcohol use, while lifetime prevalence is significant among a population where 22.1 per cent—approximately 6.8 million—are minors.

The NGO also cited heavy episodic drinking among adults, which starts at 1 per cent in the 18–29 age group and has contributed to increased per capita alcohol consumption from 1.46 litres in 1960 to 2.7 litres in 2016, with heavy drinkers averaging 20 litres annually.

VAST-Ghana recommended implementing the WHO guidelines on managing conflicts of interest in alcohol control policies, as well as the Movendi International framework on analysing alcohol industry-funded school programmes. It urged authorities to halt ongoing industry-led educational campaigns.

The organisation also called for the development of comprehensive, evidence-based alcohol education programmes delivered solely by government health and education agencies, free from industry funding or influence.

It emphasised the need for monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to prevent the alcohol industry infiltration in schools through sponsorship, donations, or partnerships.

“These actions align with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education), ensuring our children inherit a healthier, more equitable future,” the statement said.

VAST-Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with government partners, development agencies, and communities to deliver genuine, industry-free awareness campaigns on alcohol and other health-harming products, including tobacco, energy drinks, and sugar-sweetened beverages.