Accra, Ghana 12 June 2015 - The Deputy Director General of WHO, Dr  Asamoah-Baah has called on delegates to ensure that Tobacco Taxation and Tobacco Control policies are implemented in a timely manner in their respective countries.  Speaking at the closing ceremony of the high level tobacco taxation meeting held in Accra Ghana, Dr Asamoah-Baah reiterated the fact that tobacco taxation remains one of the most effective methods to reduce tobacco use, particularly among the youth and poorer population.   He therefore urged delegates to take what has been discussed here and use it well when they got back to their places of work.

He also took the opportunity to thank the delegates for making time from their usual work and to come to Ghana for this very important meeting. “I am informed that you have had a very fruitful discussion and a lot of knowledge and experiences have been shared” he said. 

It is now my pleasure to officially close this high level meeting on Tobacco Taxation with the message that “Raising Tobacco Taxes will benefit Public Health”  he concluded.

The high level taxation meeting on the general theme: “Raising Tobacco Taxes to Benefit Public Health,” served to create a platform for information sharing on countries tobacco taxation systems.

Participants were made up of finance and revenue officers as well as health personnel from Burkina Faso , Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, , Sierra Leone and The Gambia. 

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