November 23, 2023

‫أور (OR) تعتمد على سجلها الحافل في مجال ابتكار مواد التشحيم PTT للتوسع في الأسواق الدولية من خلال الاستفادة من شبكة التوزيع الراسخة لديها والشراكة الاستراتيجية

بانكوك، تايلاند – 23 نوفمبر 2023, Media OutReach– في ضوء سوق مواد التشحيم العالمية المتطورة باستمرار، واصلت شركة النفط والتجزئة الرائدة في تايلاند بي تي تي أويل آند ريتيل بيزنس بي إل سي (PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc.) (أور- OR) الاحتفاظ بحضورها القوي وسمعتها المتميزة باعتبارها العلامة التجارية الأولى لزيوت التشحيم في تايلاند مع انتشار عالمي متزايد على مر السنين. من خلال التشغيل المتكامل لزيوت التشحيم تحت العلامة التجارية PTT Lubricants، تقدم أور (OR) خط إنتاج متنوع يلبي احتياجات مختلف الصناعات من مواد التشحيم المصممة لمحركات البنزين والديزل، والدراجات النارية، والشاحنات، والآلات البحرية والسمكية، والآلات الزراعية والصناعية.

زيوت التشحيم بي تي تي (PTT Lubricants)

على مدار 30 عامًا، واصلت أور (OR) توسيع عروضها لزيوت التشحيم الصناعية محليًا ودوليًا من خلال عمليات الاستحواذ أو الشراكات التجارية. منذ دخولها لأول مرة إلى السوق الخارجية في عام 2004، يتم تصدير منتجات PTT Lubricants الآن إلى أكثر من 40 دولة حول العالم، تغطي آسيا وأوقيانوسيا وأفريقيا وأوروبا. واعتبارًا من 31 ديسمبر 2022، باعت أور (OR) منتجات تشحيم لأكثر من 700 تاجر جملة وعميل في مجال الصناعة.

تقوم شركة أور (OR) أيضًا ببيع منتجات التشحيم وتوفير خدمات الصيانة المجدولة، والتي تغطي تغيير قطع غيار المحرك ومنتجات PTT Lubricants لسائقي السيارات من خلال شبكة مراكز خدمة فيت أوتو (FIT Auto). واعتبارًا من أكتوبر 2023، قامت شركة أور (OR) بتسجيل 94 فرعًا من فيت أوتو في تايلاند، و5 فروع في كمبوديا ولاوس.

تعد العلامة التجارية PTT Lubricants من الداعمين الدائمين لرياضة السيارات من خلال سلسلة من برامج الرعاية في مشاهد سباقات السيارات والدراجات النارية المحلية والدولية، بما في ذلك سباق سيارات تايلاند (Racing Car Thailand)، أور بريك سوبربايك (OR BRIC Superbike)، وموتو جي بي (MotoGP)، وجي تي وورلد تشالينج آسيا (GT World Challenge Asia)، بالإضافة إلى العديد من سلاسل الجائزة الكبرى الدولية.

تواصل أور (OR) تحسين وابتكار تركيبات مواد التشحيم لتلبية الطلب المتطور في السوق، وتوقعات الاستدامة العالمية الحالية، والتحول المستمر إلى التنقل الإلكتروني. في عام 2020، أصبحت شركة أور (OR) أول مورد لمواد التشحيم في تايلاند يقدم منتجات تتوافق مع أحدث معايير API وSP وILSAC GF-6A مع إطلاق تقنية “إيفوتك EVOTEC” لحماية المحرك في مواد التشحيم “برفورما PERFORMA” لمحركات البنزين.

في عام 2022، تعاونت أور (OR) مع كي آي شوجر جروب (KI Sugar Group) لأول مرة لتحسين تركيبات مواد التشحيم لتلبية الاحتياجات المحددة لمنتجي السكر الصناعي بشكل أفضل. وفي العام نفسه، أظهر إطلاق PTT Lubricants EV Fuild، أول مواد تشحيم متخصصة للسيارات الكهربائية من قبل العلامة التجارية، مساعي شركة أور (OR) لأخذ زمام المبادرة في التحول المستمر إلى السيارات الكهربائية.

لتعزيز قدرتها على إدارة سلسلة التوريد بشكل أكبر، افتتحت أور (OR) مركزًا آليًا لتوزيع زيوت التشحيم في عام 2022 مع نظام تخزين واسترجاع آلي لتوزيع ما يصل إلى 260,000,000 لتر من المنتجات سنويًا واستيعاب نموها الكبير على الصعيدين المحلي والدولي.

أخذت منتجات PTT Lubricants تتوسع دوليًا بدءًا من دول كمبوديا ولاوس وميانمار وفيتنام (CLMV) المجاورة. تعتبر ميانمار ولاوس وكمبوديا وفيتنام من الأسواق الاستراتيجية مع تزايد الطلب على منتجات زيوت التشحيم وسلوك الاستهلاك المماثل لذلك الموجود في تايلاند. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، شهدت هذه البلدان زيادة تدريجية في عدد المركبات على الطرق والتصنيع السريع كوجهات جاذبة للاستثمار الأجنبي، مما يمثل فرصة قوية لشركة أور (OR) لتنمية سوق منتجات زيوت التشحيم الخاصة بها.

بفضل العمليات الراسخة لمحطة بي تي تي (PTT Station) وكافيه أمازون (Café Amazon) في لاوس وكمبوديا، سرعان ما أصبحت أور (OR) علامة تجارية مألوفة للمستهلكين، مما يسهل مبيعات وتسويق منتجات زيوت التشحيم الخاصة بـ PTT إلى قاعدة أوسع من المستهلكين. استخدمت OR استراتيجيات المبيعات مثل الأنشطة الترويجية للوكلاء والعملاء بالإضافة إلى أنشطة التسويق الخاصة عبر القنوات المتصلة الإنترنت وغير المتصلة بالإنترنت.

في ميانمار، تتوفر منتجات PTT Lubricants منذ أكثر من 18 عامًا وهي حاليًا الشركة الثانية من حيث الريادة في السوق. تعاونت شركة OR مع الموزعين المحليين في تنفيذ استراتيجيات توسيع السوق، مثل تطوير المنتجات التي تلبي الاحتياجات المحددة في السوق، وتوفير الدعم التسويقي من خلال الإعلان عن المنتجات عبر قنوات متنوعة، سواء عبر الإنترنت أو دون اتصال بالإنترنت، بالإضافة إلى تنظيم دورات تدريبية لتوفير المبيعات والمعرفة الفنية للموزعين.

بفضل منطقتها البحرية الجغرافية ذات الخط الساحلي الطويل والتصنيع سريع الخطى، تنعم فيتنام بفرصة لتداول منتجات PTT Lubricants باعتبارها الدولة التي تحتل المرتبة الرابعة من حيث حجم استهلاك منتجات التشحيم في رابطة بلدان جنوب شرق آسيا، بعد إندونيسيا وتايلاند وسنغافورة. تتمتع أعمال PTT Lubricants في فيتنام بنمو مستمر مع الموزعين عبر المدن الكبرى مثل هانوي، وهو تشي مينه، ودا نانغ، حيث تمتلك اختراقًا واسع النطاق للسوق في قطاع الشوارع الرئيسية الذي يشمل مستخدمي السيارات والشاحنات والدراجات النارية، فضلاً عن القطاعات الصناعية وقطاعات آلات صيد الأسماك.

وتمثل إندونيسيا والفلبين أسواق جنوب شرق آسيا الأخرى التي تقدم إمكانات قوية لمنتجات PTT Lubricants. دخلت PTT Lubricants السوق الإندونيسية منذ عام 2016، بدءًا من بيع منتجات الدراجات النارية والسيارات من خلال الجراجات والوكلاء في جاكرتا، وتوسعت الآن عبر المدن الرئيسية بما في ذلك جاوة، وكليمنتان، وسومطرة، وسولاوسي، مع نمو حجم المبيعات بشكل كبير عامًا بعد عام. كما أن الأنشطة ,الحملات التسويقية واسعة النطاق عبر القنوات المتصلة بالإنترنت وغير المتصلة بالإنترنت، والتي تشمل منصات التواصل الاجتماعي، وشركة او او اتش الإعلانية (OOH)، وبرنامج الرعاية بالإضافة إلى منصات التجارة الإلكترونية القوية عبر الإنترنت، دفعت أيضًا PTT Lubricants إلى تحقيق نجاح ملحوظ بخطى سريعة في إندونيسيا. وقد دخلت أور (OR) أيضًا في القطاعات الصناعية ذات إمكانات النمو العالية مثل صناعات تعدين الفحم ومصانع السكر.

نظرًا للحجم الكبير لوسائل النقل الخاصة والعامة في البلاد، تعد الفلبين سوقًا مهمةً مع ارتفاع الطلب على الزيوت ومواد التشحيم الشفافة. ومن أجل الازدهار في مواجهة المنافسة الشرسة في السوق التي تتماشى مع ارتفاع الطلب، قدمت PTT Lubricants سلسلة من برامج التسويق الداعمة مثل الحملات عبر الإنترنت للترويج للعلامة التجارية والمنتجات، ومشاركة المؤثرين في مراجعات المنتجات على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي، وتوسيع التوزيع عبر الإنترنت من خلال كبرى منصات التجارة الإلكترونية، بالإضافة إلى أنشطة العروض الترويجية في متاجر الوكلاء والجراجات للوصول إلى قاعدة أوسع من المستهلكين.

خارج جنوب شرق آسيا، تعد تايوان سوقًا رئيسيًا آخر لمنتجات PTT Lubricants مع أكثر من 14 عامًا من التواجد مع التركيز على منتجات المركبات التي تعمل بالبنزين والدراجات النارية. من خلال الأنشطة التسويقية والترويجية واسعة النطاق وبرنامج رعاية رياضة السيارات الذي تم إطلاقه على مر السنين، واصلت PTT Lubricants اكتساب ثقة المستهلك كعلامة تجارية مفضلة لزيوت التشحيم بين سائقي السيارات العامة وسائقي ماركات السيارات الأوروبية الرائدة مثل مرسيدس بنز، وفولكس فاجن، وأودي، وبورش، وكذلك بين راكبي نفس الموديلات الكبرى للدراجات المستخدمة في حلبات السباق.

توسعت PTT Lubricants أيضًا في ماليزيا وسنغافورة ودول آسيوية أخرى مثل الصين وغيرها، مع زيادة التواجد في السوق وتفضيل المستهلك مدفوعًا بمنصة التجارة الإلكترونية وقنوات التسويق المتكاملة بالإضافة إلى أنشطة مشاركة المستهلكين وبرامج رعاية الفعاليات.

تبحث OR أيضًا عن فرص لتوسيع سوق منتجات PTT Lubricants الخاصة بها إلى البلدان حول العالم التي يرتفع فيها الطلب، سواء في جنوب آسيا مثل سريلانكا وبنغلاديش، وإفريقيا مثل المغرب وإثيوبيا وتنزانيا.

نتطلع إلى أن نكون مساهمًا رئيسيًا في تشكيل مستقبل التنقل، وسوف نستمر في اعتماد استراتيجيات متنوعة من أجل تعزيز مكانة سوق منتجات PTT Lubricants وتوسيع نطاق الوصول العالمي من خلال مجموعة منتجات متنوعة لتلبية احتياجات مجموعة واسعة من الصناعات وقطاعات العملاء.

November 23, 2023

bioLytical Laboratories Inc. Donates Tests to Help Boost International Testing Access Ahead of International Testing Week

bioLytical Laboratories Inc., in partnership with NGO Coalition Plus, Leads the Charge to Promote the Importance of Rapid Testing during International Test Week with the Donation of Rapid Tests Worldwide

bioLytical, in partnership with NGO Coalition PLUS, has donated over 8,000 rapid tests across 25 countries and partner organizations
bioLytical is a Canadian company that develops and manufactures all its tests locally for worldwide distribution
bioLytical’s INSTI® platform of rapid tests is designed to detect a wide range of infectious diseases quickly and accurately
bioLytical’s quality system is MDSAP: ISO 13485 certified
Coalition PLUS is a global NGO, an international union of community-based associations that work to help fight HIV/AIDS and hepatitis

RICHMOND, British Columbia, Nov. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — bioLytical Laboratories Inc. (“bioLytical”), a global leader in rapid in-vitro medical diagnostics and partner Coalition PLUS, a global NGO, announced that together, they have donated and distributed over 8,000 tests across 25 countries to help boost testing access worldwide.

International Testing Week, scheduled for November 22- 28 this year, helps raise awareness of the importance of accessible testing for individual and public health. As one of the vital tools to help connect people to care and to reduce the spread of onward infection, boosting access to testing is critical in the fight to end severe public health challenges such as HIV and hepatitis.

The pandemic has demonstrated the importance of equitable access to rapid and accurate diagnostic testing to curb the spread of infectious diseases. Timely and efficient testing not only saves lives but also assists in minimizing the societal and economic impact of outbreaks.

As part of our commitment and in support of International Testing Week, bioLytical and Coalition PLUS are proud to play a global role in increasing access to testing, reaffirming their dedication to ending some of the world’s most severe health challenges.

Robert Mackie, CEO, bioLytical, emphasizes the significance of International Testing Week and states, “International Testing Week serves as a global reminder of the critical role rapid testing plays in safeguarding public health. It is a time to raise awareness about the necessity of early detection, which ultimately contributes to the overall health of communities worldwide. We are proud to support this cause through test donations and to be part of the solution.”

By donating these tests, bioLytical and Coalition PLUS aim to address the disparities in healthcare access and testing capabilities worldwide. Increasing equitable access to testing helps empower healthcare providers with the tools to identify infection and provide care and treatment quickly.

Dr. Bintou Dembele, Vice Chair, Coalition PLUS, says, “Community testing for HIV and STIs helps find undiagnosed people often belonging to hard-to-reach populations. The International Testing Week aims at highlighting outreach interventions that are critical to addressing the remaining gaps to end the HIV epidemic.”

bioLytical Laboratories Inc. is an industry leader in manufacturing rapid in vitro diagnostic tests focusing on infectious diseases with a global mission to ensure every person has access to accurate and reliable tests to learn their status, faster.

Coalition PLUS is an international union of community-based associations in the fight against HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis created in 2008, operating in 52 countries and alongside some one hundred civil society organizations. They promote innovative methods adapted to the individuals facing the most discrimination in access to healthcare.

In addition to its commitment to International Testing Week, bioLytical continues to innovate and develop cutting-edge diagnostic solutions to meet the ever-evolving needs of the healthcare sector. bioLytical remains dedicated to fostering a healthier, safer, and more connected world through the innovation of rapid diagnostics. By distributing these tests to underserved areas, we hope to facilitate early detection, helping healthcare providers and governments better manage and mitigate the impact of these diseases.

bioLytical Laboratories Inc. is a privately-owned Canadian company focused on researching, developing, and commercializing rapid in-vitro medical diagnostics using its proprietary INSTI^® technology platform and its lateral flow line, iStatis. bioLytical has won several local and industry awards, including B.C. Exporter of the Year in 2019. We have been named Lifesciences B.C.’s Growth Stage Med Tech Company of the Year and featured on B.C.’s Fastest-Growing Companies for seven years, including the Globe and Mail’s Fastest Growing Companies list in 2020. bioLytical moved to a significantly larger, state-of-the-art facility in Richmond, B.C., in 2020 to accommodate the extraordinary growth achieved through our team. Providing accurate results in one minute or less, the INSTI^® range includes the INSTI^® HIV-1/HIV-2 Antibody Test, INSTI^® Multiplex HIV Syphilis Ab Test, INSTI^® HIV Self Test, INSTI^® Covid-19 Antibody Test, and the INSTI^® HCV Antibody Test. bioLytical sells its products in Europe, North America, South America, Africa, and Asia. In 2022, bioLytical launched iStatis, its new lateral flow testing platform, to create additional access to testing worldwide.

By delivering accurate results in real-time, INSTI^® and iStatis generate meaningful outcomes for medical professionals, patients, and public health organizations worldwide and is a key partner in tackling some of the world’s most severe healthcare challenges. Please visit www.istatis.com and www.insti.com, and www.biolytical.com for more information.

Media Contact
Stephanie Ritchie, Communications Specialist, bioLytical
press@biolytical.com
+1-778-238-9340

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8983966

November 23, 2023

Lady Naa Yaa Nsarko eyes Miss Maliaka Crown

Ten finalist will battle for the ultimate at the coronation of Miss Malaika Ghana 2023, which comes off on Friday, November 24, at the Accra International Conference Centre.

One name, which stands out from the lot, is Lady Nana Yaa Nsarko who has maintained an admirable composure and shown remarkable progress and impeccable achievements throughout the show.

‘Lady’, as she is affectionately called, is noted to have won four of the six in-house tasks all the competitors were assigned frequently, including cultural, photoshoot, fun night, and fashion tasks, and would be looking forward to crowing this feat with the grand prize of cash, a car and a crown.

Nana Yaa Nsarko who aims to be a human rights lawyer says she would live up to expectation when she wins the competition.

Showstoppers including, Mr Drew, Sefa, Olive the Boy, Loli X Lola, Maya Blu and Banzy Banero are expected to perform on Friday night when the show kicks off at 8pm.

Lady Nana Yaa Nsarko had her basic education at St Peter’s Mission Scho
ol before proceeding to Aburi Girls’ Senior High School where she became the President of the Ghana United Nations Student and Youth Association.

She holds a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). During her time at KNUST, she participated in various legal forums, showcasing her prowess in women empowerment, negotiations, clinic and mooting and youth advocacy.

Yaa Nsarko has a special appreciation for diverse perspectives and believes in constructive dialogues. Outside academics, she is a Youth Counselor, a Digital content creator.

Recently, she was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Women Empowerment in Ghana by the New York Base International Human Rights Commission (IHRC).

Global Peace, an initiative of ACCORD based in Durban, South Africa, once featured Nana Yaa Nsarko as a distinguished speaker at the Global Peace Summit on Youth, Peace and Security.

Global Peace initially had its maiden Intergenerational Dialogue launched in Accra in May 2019 by
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana.

With exceptional talent, she hopes to combine legal knowledge, communication skills, and high school experiences to excel in her career and positively influence the lives of her peers and her community.

Nana Yaa seeks to embark on deepening awareness creation on HIV and promoting HIV self-testing as her project when she wins the crown. Her hobbies are cooking, dancing and taking pictures.

Source: Ghana News Agency

November 23, 2023

About 50 drivers receive training on safe road usage in Obuasi

As part of efforts to rein in road accidents in the Adansi enclave ahead of the yuletide, 50 commercial and institutional drivers as well as cyclists have undergone free training on safe road usage.

The training was put together by AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine in collaboration with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Ghana Ambulance Service, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), and the Obuasi Municipal Assembly.

According to statistics from the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, more than 30 people died out of 145 accident cases recorded in Obuasi between January and September 2023.

This, according to the Social Development and Gender Superintendent of AngloGold Ashanti, Mavis Nana Yaa Kyei, was very alarming thereby informing stakeholders to put in place proactive measures to contain the situation.

She told the media on the sidelines of the training that, it formed part of the community safety programme o
f AngloGold Ashanti, aimed at instilling a culture of responsible driving and adherence to traffic rules, as well as raise awareness about potential hazards on the road.

She said through the training, drivers would be equipped with the necessary tools and information which would enable them to use the road safely, thereby reducing accidents and preventing deaths or injuries on the road.

Ms Kyei was optimistic that the training would provide the platform to enhance cooperation and communication between drivers and relevant authorities, to address concerns and ensure strict adherence to road traffic regulations.

She hinted that AngloGold Ashanti after the training, would come out with a broader road safety campaign project which would further empower drivers with the necessary knowledge and skills.

‘We believe with this, we can make a significant contribution in reducing road accidents and saving lives,’ she noted.

Mr. Edwin Ofori, the Obuasi Manager of DVLA, lauded AngloGold Ashanti for organising and spo
nsoring the training, stressing that it would empower drivers by refreshing their minds on the best practices to adopt to ensure safety on the road which would help reduce road accidents in Obuasi.

He called on drivers to prioritise vehicle maintenance, which he said was crucial for keeping cars running smoothly and safely.

‘Regularly check and change the oil, inspect the tires, brakes, and lights, and schedule routine maintenance like tune-ups and fluid checks.

Always remember, proper maintenance can help prevent breakdowns and extend the life of the vehicle,’ he advised.

Chief Inspector Francis Egyir of Obuasi MTTD, who took the drivers through how to ensure safety on the road, blamed the surge in road accidents on reckless driving.

He advised drivers to avoid texting or talking on the phone and other activities that could distract their attention while driving.

‘It means anticipating potential hazards and taking proactive measures to avoid accidents and stay alert, follow traffic rules, and be mindfu
l of other drivers,’ he reiterated.

Source: Ghana News Agency

November 23, 2023

Increase climate activism to achieve COP28 objectives -YPYC tells Youth

The Young Professional and Youth Coalition (YPYC) has charged the youth to increase climate activism in furtherance of achieving the objects of the ‘Conference of the Parties’ – COP 28.

In a statement issued to the Ghana News Agency in Accra ahead of a one-day high level virtual youth conference, scheduled for November 27, President and Founder, YPYC, Mr Andy Osei Okrah, said diverse initiatives had been triggered locally to feed into the global challenge to strengthen youth participation in climate change programmes and urged young people to take advantage of them.

‘The YPYC will join the comity of nations in a concerted campaign to roll back the pervasive effects of climate change on humanity and livelihoods.’

Mr Osei Okrah said behavioral change held the key to positioning the youth as owners with a greater stake in the fortunes of the environment in the distant future to join global initiatives in restoring the ecology to its former self.

He said student leaders, tertiary students, young professional
s, youth and climate change advocates and ambassadors, who made up the target group, should constitute themselves into brand ambassadors of climate change content for the good of humanity.

He said the conference would navigate the delicate balance of achieving a healthy, regulated climate and the ever-increasing human reliance on same for research, industrial growth and technological advances.

‘We need collective mobilisation to bring issues of the environment to the front burner to let same feature prominently on the table of officialdom in tandem with political success and economic prosperity, which predominantly, has been the priority of the political class,’ Mr Osei Okrah added.

He noted that: ‘Stopping global warming is an inherently global goal since greenhouse gasses emitted anywhere, affect people everywhere, and the survival or otherwise of one, is inextricably indexed to the other.’

The YPYC Founder called for fair and inclusive decision-making process in a bid to thread down the wave of increas
ed heat and drought in parts of the world.

‘The single biggest health threat facing humanity, including air quality, disease, extreme weather events, forced displacement, increased hunger and poor nutrition can be reversed with the active inclusion of the youth.’

Speakers for the conference include Miss Roselyn Fosuah Adjei, Director of Climate Change, Forestry Commission, Professor Daniel Ofori, Director, Forest Research institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and Miss Dora Cudjoe, lead stakeholder engagement, CIF,USA.

Source: Ghana News Agency

November 23, 2023

Civil Society actors support FDA’s position to ban alcohol advertisement by celebrities

Civil society actors in Ghana, led by Vision for Alternative Development (VALD-Ghana) have expressed their support to the Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA) position to ban alcohol advertisements by celebrities.

They said the banning of celebrities from advertising alcoholic beverages was an effective public health measure that would protect the health and rights of Ghanaian children.

This was in a statement signed by Mr Labram Musah, the Executive Director of Programmes of VALD-Ghana and copied the Ghana News Agency.

The actors expressed their displeasure with the section of the media and some celebrities who are up in arms fighting the FDA and the government for formulating alcohol guidelines aimed at protecting and safeguarding the health, well-being and rights of children and young people from harm caused by alcohol consumption.

The statement said alcohol marketing was largely targeted at children and young people; ‘this is a violation of their rights, as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on t
he Rights of the Child.

‘Children have the right to grow up in a healthy environment, to be protected from being hurt, from receiving harmful information and from any exploitation.’

It said concurrently, Article 28 of Ghana’s constitution reiterated that children and young people must, in all circumstances, receive special protection against exposure to physical and moral hazards.

‘This article agrees that every Ghanaian child has the right to life and education,’ the statement said, and added that; ‘it is worth noting that these global and national provisions are all dependent on whether or not the child in question is healthy; thus, the child’s right to health must at all times superseded all other interests.’

They said as civil society actors with the mandate to champion public health against business interests, ‘we strongly support the FDA’s stance regarding hindering well-known individuals and celebrities from advertising alcoholic beverages.

‘Our core responsibility is to advocate for comprehensive
public health policies that safeguard the rights, health and well-being of children and young people.’

The statement said It was appalling that some celebrities wished to engage in alcohol advertisements for monetary benefits or personal gains without recognizing its adverse effect on children and young people as well as the poor.

‘They leverage their significant influence and huge social media following to entice young people who look up to them into alcohol consumption at the expense of their health and future,’ it stated, adding that; ‘Every country, including Ghana, has the utmost responsibility to protect its present and future generations from health-harming products such as alcohol and tobacco.’

The statement said alcohol consumption among children and young people led to a substantial burden of disease, disabilities and death, which could be prevented.

‘The science is very clear that alcohol use in young people, especially early-onset among minors, increases the risk of disrupting brain developmen
t, developing alcohol use problems later in life, unwanted pregnancies, contracting transmissible diseases, being injured, or even killed through violence and road traffic crashes.

‘Since the human brain develops until the age of 25, alcohol consumption poses a developmental risk to children and youth, affecting the development of cognitive and intellectual capacities,’ it stated.

The statement said: ‘We, the entire civil society fraternity in public health stand with the FDA and the government of Ghana in their decision to continue to implement the ban on celebrities from alcohol advertisement.

‘It is a step in the right direction to avoid the incubation of a new generation of alcohol addicts and the associated diseases and the socioeconomic burden.’

Source: Ghana News Agency