Growing up as a girl in today’s world can feel like it comes with immense pressure. We are bombarded with pressure from every angle: social media flashing the latest trends, the longing to fit in, and the yearning to be seen and celebrated for who we are. That deep desire to belong, to shine, can sometimes lead us to choices we don’t fully understand, especially when those choices are disguised as trendy or popular. But what happens when that sparkle is a trap, luring us towards harm?
The tobacco industry has mastered this game, turning our dreams of connection into a weapon against us. They weave their way into our lives with clever marketing strategies and tactics; glossy ads, influencers we adore, and even our closest friends who make their products seem chic, empowering, fashionable, or just plain fun. As a young woman, I ask: Why should I have to risk my health, my dreams, and my very future, just to feel like I belong?
Let’s be real, the tobacco industry does not care about you, me, or any of us. They do not see our ambitions, our struggles, or the unique strength we bring to the world. To them, we are just potential customers, lured into a cycle of addiction with products that steal our glow. They have swapped the “cool” cigarettes of the past for shisha, vapes, and e-cigarettes, dressing them up as “safer alternatives” or “trendy.” But, no matter how glamorous tobacco and nicotine products are marketed, harm is still harm. And as women, we often bear the heaviest consequences.
Tobacco and nicotine products like shisha, hookah, and vapes hit us differently; it’s a truth we cannot ignore. They raise our risks of heartbreaking pregnancy complications, like preterm births, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), stillbirth, or miscarriages; and not just that, but also make us more vulnerable to respiratory issues, heart disease, and cancers that could dim our light far too soon. Yet, the industry keeps coming for us, glamorizing addiction, exploiting our vulnerabilities, and using our favourite influencers to pull us in. They’re trying to steal our future, but we are stronger than that.
Young girls across Ghana are speaking out and demanding action! We refuse to remain silent while an industry built on deception preys on our aspirations and self-worth. We call on the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of Health, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Civil Society Organizations, the Ghana Education Service (GES), our parents, guardians, teachers, traditional leaders, and everyone to step up and protect us, your daughters, sisters, and future leaders from these manipulative tactics.
As we mark World No Tobacco Day 2025, let’s unmask the tobacco industry’s tricks and peel back the lies that have endangered so many of us. Being seen, heard, and loved should not mean sacrificing our health or our dreams.
To every woman and girl out there: this is our time to rise and be heard. Let’s stand together, hand in hand, and demand protection from an industry that preys on our dreams. To all who have ever felt overlooked, unheard, or unprotected, yet continue to dream boldly and demand better, in Ghana and across the world: know this, you are already enough. You do not need tobacco or nicotine products to belong, to shine, to be valued, or to fit in. Your voice matters, your dreams are valid, and your future deserves to be free from harm.
Let’s fight for a future where we can thrive, free from the tobacco industry’s grip.
This is our call: Protect us. Save us. Stand with us.
Source: Francica Amuzu, a Youth Advocate with Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development
