Accra: The Upper West (UW) Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has disposed of unwholesome products and warned of regulatory actions against individuals and businesses that failed to comply with FDA safety regulations.
According to Ghana News Agency, the items included expired, unregistered, and banned products, such as alcohol-stimulant-mixed and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as household cosmetics containing hydroquinone, valued at thousands of Ghana Cedis. The FDA conducted the disposal under the supervision of the Upper West Regional Environmental Health and Sanitation Department.
Mr. Kelvin Dafaari Sunkpal, the Upper West Regional Head of the FDA, informed the media in Wa, following the safe disposal exercise, that the items had been seized during market surveillance across the region since January 2025. He explained that the expired products posed health risks to consumers since the manufacturers could not guarantee their safety beyond their expiry dates.
Moreover, mixed alcoholic beverages and hydroquinone-induced cosmetics were banned in Ghana by the FDA due to the health risks they posed to consumers. Mr. Sunkpal remarked that these alcohol-stimulant-mixed beverages had been banned since the previous year, and manufacturers were given until March 2026 to recall their products. However, subsequent market surveillance revealed several quantities of the products still available.
The Regional Head of the FDA also stated that administrative sanctions, including fines, had been imposed on offenders. He emphasized that the authority had moved beyond sensitization and education on the sale of unwholesome products to imposing sanctions on perpetrators. Despite efforts to educate sellers, the continued distribution of these products resulted in fines being levied.
Mr. Sunkpal assured that the FDA would continue to strengthen public education campaigns and intensify market surveillance activities to ensure compliance and consumer safety. He urged consumers to be cautious when purchasing household consumables, such as food, drink, and cosmetic products, and to verify their wholesomeness before consumption.
He reiterated that the FDA does not permit the manufacture or sale of alcoholic drinks mixed with stimulants like caffeine. He advised that manufacturers should produce either alcoholic or caffeinated drinks, but not a combination of both. Mr. Sunkpal encouraged the public to prioritize purchasing wholesome products to protect their health.
In conclusion, he reassured the public of the FDA's commitment to safeguarding public health through effective regulation and enforcement measures across the region.