Ghana Announces Ban on Skin Lightening Products from August

Ghana's Food and Drug Authority has banned the sale of any kind of cosmetics containing skin bleaching ingredient hydroquinone from August. Hydroquinone has the potential to cause cancer, and Ghana is trying to discourage the use of products containing it.

FDA spokesperson James Lartey told Ghana Star, “Concerning skin lightening products, we are saying that from August 2016, all products containing hydroquinone will not be allowed into the country. From 2016, the acceptance for skin lightening products is going to be zero.”

Dazed reports that around 30% women in Ghana use skin lightening products like Fair & Lovely, with rates being way higher in other African nations, like Nigeria (77%) and Senegal (52-67%).

The predilection towards fairer skin is not an uncommon phenomenon in India, where skin lightening products are marketed to women to make them more "attractive," leading to a notion that fairer skin is equal to beautiful and successful. This focus on fairer skin goes way back to colonial times when the rulers were white, therefore fairer, and has roots in racism as well.

Well done, Ghana, for banning skin lightening products that only harm consumers. India, are you listening?

Feature Image Source: Essence