The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in the Ashanti Region has intensified market surveillance and consumer awareness campaigns to tackle the rise of expired and counterfeit products as the festive season approaches.
Officers are being dispatched to inspect supermarkets and other markets to prevent the sale of expired products to unsuspecting consumers.
It said the inspection exercise, which had been a regular exercise, was being stepped up during the Christmas season as some unscrupulous persons would want to sell unwholesome products to Ghanaians at reduced prices during this festive period.
Apart from the inspection, the FDA is also stepping up its awareness campaign to educate consumers on how to identify fake products on shelves and in markets, which is key to enhancing the effectiveness of its operations.
By equipping shoppers with knowledge, the authority aims to reduce the circulation of unsafe goods.
In addition to consumer education, the FDA is also engaging more with manufacturers and distributors, warning them to comply with operational standards and regulatory requirements.
Approach
In the Ashanti Region, the FDA is implementing a two-pronged strategy aimed at protecting consumers.
The Ashanti Regional Director of the FDA, Nathaniel Nana Kwabena Nkrumah, explained that the exercise had been ongoing throughout the year but was being intensified as the Christmas season approached, since some unscrupulous individuals might take advantage of the period to offload substandard or even expired goods onto unsuspecting consumers.
“The approach is to, first of all, educate. We can conduct our surveillance, but if the consumer is educated, they reduce your work by almost half. For example, educating consumers not to buy products that do not meet labelling requirements is the first point,” he said.
Mr Nkrumah also issued a public alert against purchasing body enhancement products that did not meet regulatory standards, emphasising the dangers of sourcing such products from unverified suppliers.
“It is not advisable for anyone to just purchase anything on social media or anywhere else.
Some certified professionals are trained and licensed to perform such activities.
“These procedures come with complications, and it is dangerous to walk into any place and be told your body can be enhanced with an over-the-counter product,” the Ashanti Regional FDA Director cautioned.
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