VAST Ghana Sounds Alarm Over Cigarette-Shaped Lollipops, Demands Nationwide Crackdown

VAST Ghana has called for a nationwide crackdown on cigarette-shaped confectionery after the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), working with the Ghana Police Service and National Security, seized quantities of an unregistered “Cigarette Rod Lollipop” in Accra.

The product was seized from sellers in Accra’s Central Business District and Makola Market, with one suspect reportedly arrested.

The development has sparked renewed concerns over products designed to resemble cigarettes and their potential impact on children.

The FDA has confirmed that the product is unregistered, while its composition remains unknown. The Authority has consequently advised the public not to purchase or consume it.

While welcoming the swift intervention by the FDA and security agencies, Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development Ghana (VAST Ghana) says the enforcement action should not end with the seizures in Accra.

The organization is demanding nationwide surveillance of markets, shops and school environments to identify and remove similar products from circulation.

VAST Ghana is also calling for stronger border controls to prevent the further importation of unregistered confectionery products that mimic tobacco products.

The organization wants laboratory testing conducted on the seized products to establish their exact chemical composition, with the findings made public.

According to VAST Ghana, parents and the public deserve clear, evidence-based information about what children are being offered for consumption.

VAST Ghana says the emergence of cigarette-shaped confectionery is not a new phenomenon in Ghana.

They recalled that in 2010, the then Food and Drugs Board warned the public about “smoke candies” that mimicked popular cigarette brands and were shaped like cigarette sticks.

Those products raised concerns over their potential to familiarize children with smoking and potentially predispose them to tobacco use.

VAST Ghana argues that the reappearance of similar products in 2026 highlights the need for sustained nationwide enforcement rather than isolated seizures.

The organization also believes tobacco and nicotine interests are adopting new strategies to make smoking and nicotine use appear attractive, playful or harmless to young people.

The organization says the sale and accessibility of cigarette-shaped confectionery to children raises questions about Ghana’s tobacco-control laws.

VAST Ghana cited provisions of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), including restrictions concerning non-tobacco products that use images, graphics or other material commonly associated with tobacco products.

It also referenced provisions dealing with products that look like or are likely to be identified or associated with tobacco or tobacco products.

VAST Ghana further pointed to Article 16 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which calls for measures against sweets, snacks, toys and other objects in the form of tobacco products that appeal to minors.

The organization is urging the relevant authorities to issue a clear determination on the product’s compliance with Ghana’s tobacco-control laws and regulations.

VAST Ghana described the “Cigarette Rod Lollipop” as an example of the commercial determinants of health, arguing that product design, packaging and marketing can influence behaviors in ways that may harm public health.

The organization says products that imitate cigarettes can make smoking appear familiar, playful and socially acceptable to children.

It argues that introducing children to the appearance, language and rituals associated with smoking could contribute to the normalization of tobacco use. also raised concerns about the influence of celebrities and other public figures on young people.

The organization urged public figures to refrain from glamorizing cigarette smoking and other products that can harm health.

It cited recent public comments attributed to musician Shatta Wale, who has spoken about smoking cigarettes while distinguishing cigarette use from harder drugs.

VAST Ghana argues that such public statements can contribute to an environment where cigarette smoking is perceived as acceptable, particularly among young audiences.

The organization is therefore calling on celebrities and other public figures to recognize their influence and avoid presenting tobacco use as desirable or harmless and also emphasized the addictive nature of nicotine and the health risks associated with tobacco exposure.

It said nicotine is particularly concerning for children and adolescents because of its effects on the developing brain and its potential to contribute to long-term dependence.

They further warned that parents may not immediately recognize the potential risks posed by products that are packaged or designed to resemble cigarettes. It therefore wants the issue treated not only as a public-health matter but also as a child-protection concern.

VAST Ghana is calling on the FDA, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ghana Education Service and other relevant agencies to:

1. Extend market surveillance nationwide, including markets, shops and school environments.
2. Strengthen border controls to prevent the importation of unregistered or tobacco-mimicking confectionery.
3. Conduct laboratory testing of seized products and publish the findings.
4. Determine the product’s legal compliance with the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851) and Tobacco Control Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2247).
5. Intensify public education for parents, teachers, vendors and communities.
6. Treat the matter as a child-protection and public-health priority.
7. Ensure stronger enforcement of restrictions on e-cigarettes, vapes and shisha to protect young people from tobacco and nicotine-related harm.

The Executive Director Labram Musah said Ghana’s progress in tobacco control should not be undermined by products that turn cigarettes into sweets.

“Ghana’s hard-won gains in tobacco control must not be undermined by products that turn cigarettes into sweets. The FDA’s recent action is welcome; now it must be sustained, expanded and backed by testing, border control and strong public education. The protection of children must take precedence over commercial interests.”

it remains ready to support the FDA, Ministry of Health and other stakeholders through evidence-based advocacy, public education and constructive engagement.

The organization is ultimately calling for the government and regulatory authorities to move beyond the initial seizure and arrest and establish sustained nationwide measures to prevent products that could normalize tobacco and nicotine use among Ghana’s children.