Following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA) ban on celebrity alcohol advertisements, several notable figures in Ghana have voiced their opinions.
Entertainment pundit and radio presenter Nana Poku, popularly known as Rabbai, has criticized the directive, labelling it as unnecessary and lacking strategic foresight.
During a discussion with actress Martha Joyce (MATJOY) on Oyerepa TV’s CineFie, Rabbai argued that the topic of alcohol advertisement by celebrities has garnered balanced commentary.
However, he believes the discourse has unfairly stigmatized alcohol as inherently negative.
“There is no evidence showing that banning celebrities from advertising alcohol will prevent underage drinking, as there is no footage of minors abusing alcohol in drinking establishments.” He stated,
Rabbai also highlighted the prevalence of alcohol advertisements during English Premier League broadcasts, which are widely watched by children due to their love for football.
“Most children are active on social media and are exposed to everything that happens there, making the ban both unnecessary and strategically flawed,” he added.
The FDA’s guidelines for the Advertisement of Foods, published on February 1, 2016, clearly state that “No well-known personality or professional shall be used in alcoholic beverage advertising.”
The authority explained that this measure aims to prevent minors from developing an interest in alcohol due to the influence of celebrities.
Despite these intentions, Rabbai and other critics argue that the ban fails to address the real issues and does not effectively shield minors from alcohol exposure.
