Sofokrom (W/R), Dec. 16, GNA – The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has destroyed quantities of unwholesome drugs and other sub-standard products on markets in Takoradi.
These include herbal mixtures, bloated canned foods, various sexual enhancement drugs, groceries and ointments and were seized from importers at the ports and from peddlers and shops in the Western Region.
They were either expired, illegally imported, fake or unregistered and were burnt to ashes at the Sofokrom Final Waste Disposal Site to prevent them from finding their way back to the markets.
Briefing the Ghana News Agency in Takoradi, Mr Prince Ebo, a Regulatory Officer of the FDA, said the safe disposal of the items followed recent post-market surveillance the Authority conducted.
The items were seized from traders in the Western and Western North regions between September and December 2021.
He expressed concern over the growing interest of women peddling pharmaceuticals of dubious origin on the streets and pledged the FDA’s resolve to holistically deal with the trend.
He cautioned the public against the sale and purchase of expired, fake, and unregistered products on the markets and advised them not to be concerned only about the expiry dates but also check the general state of the products.
Mr Ebo urged the public to report to the Authority if they had doubts about the wholesomeness of any product on the market for the necessary action to be taken.
Products with user instructions in languages other than English should be avoided since consumers may not know how such products worked or what they contained, he said.
GNA