Ghana to Ban Sale of Skin Bleaching Products as of August 2016

Skin bleaching remains a norm in Ghana especially among celebrities and youths. The motivations of individuals to do so are many. Just recently the country’s local professional boxer, Bukom Banku not only confirmed bleaching his skin but also admitted bleaching just so he gains a national assignment from President John Mahama as Ghana’s ambassador to Germany.

“I am bleaching my skin because when John Mahama wins 2016 elections, he will make me Ghana’s ambassador to Germany. I am bleaching myself for German people to know that German peo­ple and Bukom Banku are one. Bleaching can’t affect my skin because I have a very good skin. Again, rashes can’t affect me because I am using Cleaning Claire and I am taking medicine as well. If I don’t bleach they won’t give me that position…and if you see me now I look fresh because of President John Mahama,” Bukom Banku is recorded stating.

This almost a tragically wrongful assumption. For one, Mr. Banku is risking his personal health considering the adverse effect profile many of these skin bleaching products have. Moreover, if he should ever be assigned ambassador to Germany, German people will accept and value him because of his intelligence, his competency at representing his native country Ghana to Germany, his diplomatic skills, and his winning overall personality. In this role, speaking some German would make him even more sympathetic to his host country, although this is not a obligation at all. None of this skills at ambassador has anything to do with skin color at all, and bleaching of your skin would not help you at all to acquire these. Either you have them, or you don’t.

The use of hydroquinone products is banned in the United States, Japan, Australia and the European Union; research conducted by the American Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) indicates that the chemical contained cancer-causingelements inimical to the health of one’s skin. Also, retired dermatologist Professor Edmund Delle has warned persons who indulge in the act of skin bleaching arguing that they stand the chance of not only damaging their skin but also “giving room to all manner of skin infections and health related diseases.” Skin bleaching, unfortunately, is widespread throughout the world and seemingly epidemic for women of color. The sad truth about most of these product is, however, that they may bleach your skin, no doubt about this, but they may leave you with incredible adverse effects. Most of the time, you wind up far away from the ideal you wanted to achieve, namely some phony resemblance to a lighter skin coloured actresses, perhaps? We doubt that this is worth the price and the risks.