GBC must not use prime time to advertise alcohol – Prof Adei

Former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, GIMPA, Prof. Stephen Adei wants the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, GBC, to desist from using prime time to sell alcoholic beverages.

“I have been hearing some of my respected men of the cloth advocating for the payment of TV license as a national responsibility. I have mine for two years now. We must however, also let GBC know that it is also its national irresponsibility not to use prime time to sell alcoholic beverages. It is a health hazard,” Prof Adei said.

Prof Adei made these remarks in his presentation at the at the climax of Christian Health Association of Ghana’s (CHAG’s) golden jubilee celebration at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Millennium City at Kasoa in the Central Region.

Prof Adei called for a strong effort to tackle the menace of drugs and alcohol abuse especially among the youth.

“That is why I find it sickening for GBC to use prime time of news to sell adonko bitters amongst others to such an extent that adonko bitters has become the signature tune for some primary school pupils,” he said.

“We cannot and should not pay TV licenses which I strongly advocated to GBC for them and at the same time to use our national media to sell alcohol, cigarette and other health hazards, drugs and drinks,” he said.

Speaking on the topic: “Exploring Innovations for Sustainable Health Services in Ghana”, Prof Adei said: “It does not take much to know that our public health situation in Ghana is in bad shape and requires urgent attention”.

“For one the sanitation situation is such that we can no longer continue to discuss it. It is time to act forcefully, decisively and collectively to improve the situation,” he said.

“I just heard on television a few days ago that Gambia has banned the use of plastics in the way we use it for sachet water, food wraps. We must gather the political and moral will to address this menace,” Prof Adei said.

He noted that the President had promised to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa but it would require a combined national effort aimed at regulation, law enforcement and discipline to clean not only our behind but this time our front and sides.

“The President will go down in history as a hero if he leads in finding lasting and sustainable solution to our public health challenges especially sanitation and galamsey along with quality basic and secondary education in the country,” he said.