FDA to decide fate of ‘healing churches’

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is considering the closure of churches that advertise cure for ailments that are not supposed to be publicized per the Authority’s Act.

The Authority’s Fifth Schedule Section 114 prohibited the advertisement of treatment, prevention or cure for sexually transmitted disease, cancers, mental disorders among others.

Mr. James Lartey, Head of Communication and Public Education, FDA, in an interaction with the media in Ho said, it was unfortunate seeing some churches and individuals openly advertising cure for those diseases.

He said such claims were often misleading and worsened the plight of unsuspecting victims and said the Authority was thinking through how to handle such people hiding under the guise of miracle healing churches.

Mr. Lartey cautioned the media to be wary of receiving and airing such advertisements and Live Presenter Mention (LPM) of any form to avoid sanctions by the Authority.

He asked media houses to ensure that all advertisements presented to them had the clause “this advertisement has been vetted and approved by the FDA” before broadcasting.

Mr. Lartey said the Authority would soon unveil its monitoring team and anyone found culpable would be liable to a summary conviction and or fine not less than 7500 penalty units or and administrative fine of GHC 25,000.

The Authority recently enforced the ban on the advertisement of alcoholic beverages on the airwaves within specific time, calling it “a good public intervention which is aimed at protecting the health of the entire population”.