WAAPA calls for global support to protect Alcohol Control Policies from industry interference at the Fifth WHO Forum on Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviours (FADAB) 2025.
Mr Issah Ali, the Head of Secretariat of the West African Alcohol Policy Alliance (WAAPA) and the Vice Chair of the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA), delivered WAAPA’s statement at the Fifth WHO Forum on Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviours (FADAB) 2025.
In his address, Mr Ali shared key progress made across the West African Region, noting that this were made possible with support from FORUT Norway, GAPA and governments partners contributing to the development of National Alcohol Policies in several countries including:
- Liberia and Sierra Leone: National Alcohol Policies have been developed and being implemented, with current focuses towards legislative development.
- The Gambia: supporting the Alcohol Policy Alliance Gambia and the Ministry of Health to adopt the validated National Alcohol Policy.
- Ghana: supporting the Ministry of Health to progress the draft Alcohol Legislation to Parliament for adoption.
- Nigeria: working to protect the Alcohol Policy making space from alcohol industry and its affiliates influence.
- Benin, Senegal and Burkina Faso, supporting the development of a new comprehensive National Alcohol Policies through its National Alcohol Policy Alliances.
He added that while these efforts mark significant progress, challenges still remain in ensuring sustainable implementation and protecting of public health policies from industry interference.
Calling on WHO to:
- Strengthen country-level Alcohol Reporting Mechanisms to reflect Global Alcohol Action Plan (GAAP), Best Buys and ensure civil society involvement in the process.
- Provide more direct technical and financial support to Member States in the African Region for implementing the GAAP.
- Prioritize the inclusion of GAAP in the 2025 UN High Level Meeting Outcome Document.
- Support Member States to defend their Alcohol Policies from Commercial Interference.
Mr Ali announced that WAAPA and it’s partners will soon publish civil society Shadow Report on GAAP implementation in selected West Africa countries. Emphasising that the reports aims to track national progress, expose policy gaps and highlight priority issues for governments, development partners and the public.
He concluded asserting that WAAPA remains committed to strengthening collaborations with WHO, Member States and partners to advance evidence- based alcohol policies across the region
Thank you.
