Bolgatanga: The Upper East Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has imposed a fine of GHS25,000.00 on a pregnant woman for advertising unregistered products on social media.
According to Ghana News Agency, the woman, identified as Madam Perpetual Akurugu, used TikTok to promote unregistered aphrodisiacs and body enhancement products from her residence in Yorogo, a community within the Bolgatanga Municipality. Mr. Abel Ndego, Acting Upper East Regional Head of the FDA, discovered her activities during a routine social media check. He noted that the use of Gurune, a local language of the Upper East Region, in her advertisements caught his attention. Subsequently, he downloaded her videos for regulatory review and instructed officers to investigate further.
The FDA officials executed a strategic operation at Madam Akurugu's home, where they found the unregistered products stored in her kitchen cabinets. Despite her pregnancy, she was arrested, with the authorities emphasizing the law's application to prevent future violations. Mr. Ndego highlighted the increasing misuse of social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok for promoting unregulated products, reiterating the FDA's role in monitoring such activities to ensure compliance with the Public Health Act 851 of 2012.
In a connected effort, FDA officials, led by Regulatory Officer 1 (RO1) Mr. Jiah Jiato Juah, conducted inspections in the Bolgatanga Municipality, targeting shops selling unregistered products. At 'Malbas Body Essentials and Cosmetics' in Soe, they confiscated unregistered items despite the shop owner's claims of ignorance. Mr. Juah emphasized the importance of product registration and laboratory analysis to ensure public safety, warning businesses against selling unregistered products.
