T
he Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has appealed to the managers of markets, lorry stations, hotels and pubs to help enforce the regulation against tobacco smoking in public places.
The FDA said it is illegal for people to smoke in public places and anyone caught in the act will be made to face the law, including the manager of that public place.
The Acting Upper West Regional Head of the FDA, Mr Kelvin Dafaari, made the appeal in Wa during a meeting with some managers of public places including the GPRTU, pubs and hotels among others.
He said the FDA will soon embark on a swoop with support from the Ghana Police Service at public places and anyone caught smoking tobacco in the open would be punished.
The Senior Industrial Relations Officer of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Upper West Region, Alhaji Nuhu Mahama, said the move by the FDA is in the right direction and the leadership of the GPRTU will assist in sensitizing the people on the effects of smoking in public.
The Operations Manager of FANCO Hotel, Miss Eugina Sagdiweh Wepiah, said her hotel has been enforcing the regulation by driving away people who smoke tobacco at the hotel.
Also, the Food and Beverages Manager at Delagio Hotel, Mr Ishmael Kurug Bugbil, mentioned that they are enforcing that regulation at the hotel.