He said beyond registering their products with the FDA, manufacturers were also required to obtain approval from the Authority before advertising them, in accordance with the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851). 

Mr. Nkrumah gave the warning during a training session organised for morning show hosts in the Kumasi Metropolis to sensitise them on regulatory requirements governing advertisement of products, especially alcoholic beverages and medicinal items. 

He said media hosts, particularly radio morning show presenters, were equally liable under the law if they allowed non-compliant advertisements to be aired on their platforms. 

He noted that, the FDA had intensified its monitoring of radio stations across the region and had observed persistent violations, largely due to lack of awareness among some media practitioners. 

“We monitor radio stations from morning to evening, and that is how we identify these challenges. 

Some of the issues discussed are not known to the media, and this training is to equip them to identify non-compliant advert scripts and reject them,” he said. 

Mr. Nkrumah indicated that administrative fines for regulatory breaches started from GH¢25,000 and could increase depending on the severity of the offence. 

He also expressed concern that some manufacturers treated the fines as a normal cost of doing business and continued to advertise products with unsubstantiated claims. 

“The law goes beyond fines. 

The FDA has the power to cancel the registration of such products, and once that is done, they cannot be advertised or sold,” he stated. 

Mr. Nkrumah said the Authority would not hesitate to escalate sanctions, including prosecution, for persistent offenders, explaining that the Public Health Act prescribed severe penalties, including long-term imprisonment. 

He described the Ashanti Region as a “no-go area” for individuals and companies seeking to flout regulatory requirements, adding that, enforcement would be strengthened to deter non-compliance. 

Touching on the importance of the engagement, he said the media remained a key partner in public education due to its wide reach and influence. 

“Once you educate journalists, you educate the public. 

That alone can solve a significant part of the problem,” he noted. 

Mr. Nkrumah cited instances where misleading product claims had led to serious health consequences, stressing that the FDA would not allow the exploitation of the public for financial gain. 

“Human health cannot be exchanged for money.  

We will not tolerate any action that puts lives at risk,” he emphasised. 

He urged media practitioners to adhere strictly to FDA guidelines and verify the approval status of products before airing advertisements, to help safeguard public health.