Gambia News : Gambia bans smoking in public places
Apr 18,2009 00:00
by
lamin
The Gambian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has banned smoking in
all public places in accordance with a nation-wide regional
consultation on the Prohibition of Smoking Act of 1998.A statement from the ministry urged all heads of institutions, organisations, and other public places to comply with the provisions of the act, which takes effect Friday, as smoking would be allowed only in clearly labelled designated smoking areas.
“Any person who contravenes the provision of the Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a range of fines or to a term of imprisonment of not more than three months or to both fine and imprisonment,” the health ministry stated.
The statement also noted that smoking in public places was prohibited by an act of parliament, under the Prohibition of smoking (public places) Act of 1998.
It pointed out that the act was assented to by President Yahya Jammeh on 23 September 2008, thereby making public smoking unlawful and punishable by law.
“The Act defines public places to include all government premises, all work places, hospitals or health facilities, private premises, vehicles and shops to which the public have access,” the statement explained.