FDA drags five drug peddlers to court

Five supposed drug peddlers, who have been accused of displaying and selling drugs and herbal medicines that have not been registered by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), have been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court.

The five, including two females, have been charged with exhibiting drugs and herbal medicinal products for sale.

Anita Danso, 27, Akua Oforiwaa, 36, Issaka Awudu, 38, Buhari Ganga, 26, and Mohammed Sani, 40, all traders, pleaded not guilty.

They have been granted bail in the sum of GHC100,000 each, with two sureties, to reappear on May 3 before the court, presided over by Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku.

This was after defence counsel for the five, E. Korley, had prayed the court to admit them to bail considering the fact that the charges against the accused, who are not flight risk, are misdemeanours.

According to the defence, the female accused persons have kids and would provide sureties, if granted bail.

The prosecution told the court that the complainants are officials of FDA while the accused are drug peddlers at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

According to prosecution, for some time now, officials of FDA have been receiving complaints about the influx and abuse of Tramadol and other Aphrodisiacs in the country.

The prosecution said based on the complaint, FDA officials and officers from the Pharmacy Council and the Ghana Police Service embarked on inspection and apprehended the five at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

The prosecution said the accused persons, during police interrogation, admitted the offence in their caution statements.