Vision 4 Accelerated Sustainable Development

31/12/2025

On behalf of the entire VAST Ghana team, we want to congratulate you Labram Musah once again on this well-deserved award- the WHO 2025 World No To***co Day Award.

Your leadership brought out the best in all of us, and we are proud to have achieved this together under your guidance".

Thank you for providing a favourable work environment where we feel valued and encouraged to do our best. Your continued efforts to our growth is immensely appreciated.

We want to thank you for everything you did during the first year of VAST Ghana. Even when challenges arose, you never gave up and ensured the team stayed motivated. We couldn't have done it without you as our LEADER.

We continued to be inspired by your leadership and by the Grace and blessings of God, 2026 and beyond will be greater and more prosperous.

Stay Bless. FROM YOUR STAFF

World Health Organization Ghana Ministry of Health, Ghana Food and Drugs Authority Ghana Movendi International Vital Strategies

30/12/2025

The Global NCDA Forum hosted in 2025 constituted many firsts:
✅it was the first time that the NCDA co-hosted its flagship event with a local NCD Alliance;
✅the first time the Forum was hosted in partnership with a national government;
✅and the first time that the Forum convened in sub-Saharan Africa.

Organised in partnership with Rwanda NCD Alliance, in collaboration w/ Rwanda Health, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, and with thanks to a strategic partnership with Helmsley Charitable Trust, the Forum took place under the banner Leadership on NCDs Towards 2025 & Beyond.

Learn more about key highlights 👉 https://pulse.ly/5xhikeeanm

25/12/2025

Season’s Greeting
As the year 2025 comes to a close, the Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Ghana (VAST Ghana) pauses with hearts full of reflection and gratitude to all including government, development partners, academic institutions, relevant private sector, civil society actors, persons with lived experience among others.

What began as an inspired idea has, by the grace of God, grown into a vibrant organization with a clear voice, a strong sense of purpose, and a future filled with promise.

When we look back over these past months, it is undeniable that despite the challenges, God Almighty has carried us, guided our steps, and established the work of our hands.

This first year has taught us that progress is not only measured by the projects completed or the partnerships secured, but also by the resilience, unity, and dedication of the people who serve under this vision. Each milestone—whether big, small, seen, or unseen—reminds us that God has been with us, shaping our beginnings and pointing us toward greater impact.

The prospects ahead are bright. But as the organization rises, may that rise be evident in the lives of every staff member, the board and management team—spiritually, professionally, and personally. Let our growth as an institution translate into growth for every individual who carries this vision forward.

May gratitude be our posture, excellence our culture, and God’s guidance our anchor.

To our boss Labram Musah, the Executive Director and every staff member: thank you for believing, for labouring, and for pushing through.

The journey has just begun, and the best is yet to come.
Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

Ministry of Health, Ghana NCD Alliance World Health Organization Ghana Vital Strategies Vital Strategies Afidep

24/12/2025

Ghana must reject these tactics and strengthen its commitment to WHO FCTC provisions, and the full implementation of the WHO MPOWER package:

24/12/2025

The Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Ghana (VAST Ghana) via a strong worded rejoinder has once again expressed it deep concerned over the continues call by the To***co Industry and its allies for the government to consider vapes as strategy to reduce smoking among young people in Ghana.

Read more:
Rejoinder: Misleading push to classify Vapes as harm reduction must be rejected: https://ghextractives.com/rejoinder-misleading-push-to-classify-vapes-as-harm-reduction-must-be-rejected/

Ban e-cigarettes — VAST-Ghana to government: https://www.myjoyonline.com/ban-e-cigarettes-vast-ghana-to-government/

VAST Ghana call for rejection of va**ng as to***co harm reduction: https://gna.org.gh/2025/12/vast-ghana-calls-for-rejection-of-va**ng-as-to***co-harm-reduction/

Misleading push to classify Vapes as harm reduction must be rejected: https://ghextractives.com/rejoinder-misleading-push-to-classify-vapes-as-harm-reduction-must-be-rejected/

Ghana is in the process of reviewing the Public Health Act and the Industry has already started engaging to get HR in the revised act.

The Industry argued that as Ghana enters a pivotal phase in its legislative review of the Public Health Act, policymakers have a unique opportunity to shape a healthier, more economically vibrant future. Recognising vapes and to***co-free oral ni****ne pouches within the Act is not just a public health imperative – it is an economic catalyst with far-reaching implications for Ghana’s development trajectory.

Non to***co products are considered illicit in Ghana, so the industry is trying through front groups to push their HR strategy
See below the statement issued by ILAPI a free-enterprise public policy research think tank pushing the HR agenda

VAST Ghana will continue to expose TI and provide technical advice to the government in the interest of public health.

Ministry of Health, Ghana Food and Drugs Authority Ghana Global Alliance for To***co Control NCD Alliance Global Center for Good Governance in To***co Control GGTC World Health Organization Ghana Africa NCDs Network Tax Justice Network Africa Vital Strategies

Ghana must reject these tactics and strengthen its commitment to WHO FCTC provisions, and the full implementation of the WHO MPOWER package:

16/12/2025

By Albert Allotey Accra, Dec. 15, GNA – The Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Ghana (VAST-Ghana), a non-governmental organization, has called on stakeholders in health to ban alcohol industry sponsorship in school-based and community…

15/12/2025

VAST-Ghana calls for ban on alcohol industry sponsorship in school-based activities

As part of VAST Ghana monitoring of Alcohol Industry Activities, it noted with concerned a raising alarm over the infiltration of alcohol industry-sponsored programs into Ghanaian schools. It noted that this practice violates the Food and Drugs Authority Ghana (FDA) Guidelines on Advertisement of Regulated Products and undermines public health efforts to combat alcohol harm among vulnerable youth.

It therefore called on the Ministry of Health, Ghana, Food and Drugs Authority Ghana (FDA), Ghana Education Service and Ghana Health Service(GHS) to intervene decisively and prohibit alcohol industry involvement in school-based education and campaigns.

Such initiatives, often disguised as corporate social responsibility, exploit young people for profit while normalizing alcohol consumption and delaying effective policy action.

This statement, has triggered investigation in school base campaign initiated by the industry by Food and Drugs Authority,Ghana

Read to learn more https://gna.org.gh/2025/12/vast-ghana-calls-for-ban-on-alcohol-industry-sponsorship-in-school-based-activities/

Movendi International NCD Alliance World Health Organization Ghana Vital Strategies

By Albert Allotey Accra, Dec. 15, GNA – The Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Ghana (VAST-Ghana), a non-governmental organization, has called on stakeholders in health to ban alcohol industry sponsorship in school-based and community…

12/12/2025

As we count down to the exciting Walk from to the beautiful Aburi Botanical Gardens, the entire team at Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Ghana kicked off preparations in style!

We held our usual energetic Keep-Fit session at the office, getting both and ready for the big day. It was fun, refreshing, and the perfect warm-up for what promises to be an unforgettable experience.

To all keep-fit enthusiasts, sports lovers, nature admirers, and everyone who enjoys good vibes and great company, this is your official invitation!

Come represent, come walk with us, come laugh with us, and let’s create beautiful, lasting memories together in the cool, refreshing hills of .

Let’s move, bond, and celebrate health and unity the African way!

See you there! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️💚



Ministry of Health, Ghana Food and Drugs Authority Ghana .gh Ghana NCD Alliance NCD Alliance Movendi International

11/12/2025

On behalf of the Minister of Health-Hon. Titus Kofi Beyuo said on the plenary at the side event at COP 11 that Ghana, as a Party to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on To***co Control (FCTC), has made significant progress through policy reforms, taxation, enforcement, and governance improvements. However, challenges persist, including rising to***co use among youth, illustrated by 7.8 percent uptake of sh**ha and 8.8 percent to***co use among children aged 13 to 15. To address these trends, Ghana launched the National To***co Control Strategy 2023-2028 and ratified the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in To***co Products.

Read more here: https://ghananewsonline.com.gh/ghanas-participation-in-cop11-shows-to***co-control-leadership-prof-beyuo/

Ministry of Health, Ghana Food and Drugs Authority Ghana World Health Organization Ghana Tax Justice Network Africa Vital Strategies

Member of Parliament for Lambussie, Hon. Titus Kofi Beyuo, has disclosed that Ghana’s participation in COP11 offers a critical platform to showcase the nation’s leadership in to***co control as a strategic pathway to achieving Sustainable Development

11/12/2025

Ghana’s participation in the 11th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on To***co Control (WHO FCTC) offers a critical platform to showcase our nation’s leadership in to***co control — a strategic pathway to achieving 3.4. 11 is a global gathering where all countries that have signed the treaty meet to discuss how to strengthen to***co control worldwide. Representing the Ministry of Health, Ghana, Hon. Titus K. Beyuo, leader of Ghana’s delegation, speaking at the WHO FCTC COP11 side-event in said to***co-related diseases are entirely preventable — the cost of inaction is simply too high. The 2023 introduction of a specific excise tax of 28 pesewas per cigarette stick aligned with ECOWAS protocols; this shows our resolve to make to***co less affordable and reduce consumption.

Read more here: https://ghananewsonline.com.gh/ghanas-participation-in-cop11-shows-to***co-control-leadership-prof-beyuo/

ATCA - African To***co Control Alliance Global Alliance for To***co Control Food and Drugs Authority Ghana
Tax Justice Network Africa Africa NCDs Network African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF)

Member of Parliament for Lambussie, Hon. Titus Kofi Beyuo, has disclosed that Ghana’s participation in COP11 offers a critical platform to showcase the nation’s leadership in to***co control as a strategic pathway to achieving Sustainable Development

11/12/2025