This civil society shadow report assesses Ghana’s progress in implementing the WHO Global Alcohol Action Plan (2022–2030) and highlights major gaps undermining effective alcohol control. Despite the adoption of the National Alcohol Policy (NAP) in 2016, implementation remains slow, fragmented, and underfunded.
Key challenges include:
- the absence of a legislative instrument to give the NAP legal force
- weak multisectoral coordination,
- pervasive alcohol marketing, and
- limited regulation of informal alcohol— which accounts for more than half of national consumption.
Enforcement gaps, inadequate data systems, and industry interference further hamper public health efforts.
Recommendations:
- for Parliament: to pass the draft alcohol control law
- establish a Ghana National Alcohol Commission,
- strengthen enforcement on drink‑driving and underage sales,
- expand community-level education
- better surveillance of illicit and informally produced alcohol
Organizations such as Vision for Alternative Development (VALD-Ghana), the Alcohol Policy Alliance – Ghana (GhanAPA), and the West African Alcohol Policy Alliance (WAAPA)— a longstanding FORUT partner — continue to play a pivotal role in policy advocacy, awareness‑raising, and accountability. Their coordinated efforts continue to push for stronger legislation, protect policy processes from industry interference, and advance evidence-based alcohol harm reduction across Ghana and the wider West African region.