Labram Musah(3rd from left)
The Executive Director of Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development Ghana (VAST Ghana), Labram Musah Massawudu has been re-elected to the International Board of Movendi International for a second term covering 2026 to 2030.
His re-election took place during the 71st Session of the Movendi International World Congress, held in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, from October 2 to 7, 2026. He first joined the board in 2022.
The congress, the movement’s highest decision-making body, adopted a new four-year strategic plan, elected the board that will lead the organisation until 2030 and marked its 175th anniversary.
At the congress, Mr Musah also spoke on “Taking People Inside Change in Exposing Alcohol Industry,” presenting VAST Ghana’s work to monitor and counter alcohol industry interference in Ghana.
In a statement, he described his re-election as a mandate for Ghana and Africa, saying the next four years should focus on translating growing recognition of alcohol-related harm into binding obligations for governments.
He said alcohol should be addressed not only as an individual consumption issue but also as a public health and development concern, citing its links to cancer and other non-communicable diseases.
Movendi International describes itself as a global social movement promoting development through alcohol prevention, with members across Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Americas and Europe.
Under its Strategic Road Map for 2027 to 2030, the organisation intends to strengthen grassroots mobilisation, advocate population-level alcohol policies, counter industry interference, support communities from prevention to recovery, promote alcohol-free environments and influence public discourse.
The movement also plans to advance efforts towards a Framework Convention on Alcohol Control, an international instrument that its supporters envisage could establish stronger obligations for governments on alcohol policy.
Mr Musah’s re-election comes as VAST Ghana pushes for stronger alcohol control measures, effective implementation of Ghana’s National Alcohol Policy and health-based taxation of alcohol and tobacco products.
His work in Ghana has included advocacy for tobacco control legislation, the adoption of the National Alcohol Policy in 2016, launched in 2017, and reforms to excise taxation. He has also contributed to research and monitoring initiatives examining tobacco industry interference and alcohol use.
According to VAST Ghana, its work under his leadership has extended alcohol and tobacco control advocacy and non-communicable disease education to communities, schools and faith-based settings.
Mr Musah said Ghana needed to move beyond having an alcohol policy on paper towards effective implementation, including stronger regulation of alcohol availability and marketing and protection of policymaking from commercial interference.
Solomon Foli, Programmes Manager at NCD Alliance Ghana, described the re-election as a vote of confidence in Mr Musah and Ghana’s public health policy advocacy.
Godfred Tweneboa Kodua, Research and Policy Advocacy Manager at VAST Ghana, said the appointment reinforced the organisation’s commitment to connecting local advocacy with international public health standards.
Mr Musah is expected to work with the Movendi International board and member organisations to advance alcohol prevention and stronger public health policies during the 2026–2030 term.
