FDB Pounces On Kojach Pharma

The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has ordered Kojach Pharma to immediately withdraw from the market its antimalarial product, ACUMAL JUNIOR. This is to ensure public safety.

The product, which is manufactured by Rajat Pharmachem Limited, India, for Kojach Pharma Limited, Kumasi –Ghana, is presented in a powdered form in green sachets (primary package) with a red inscription of “Acumal Junior” written on a yellow background and presented commercially in a green paper secondary package containing three (3) sachets.

A release signed by the Executive Director of the Board, Dr. Stephen Opuni, said the product was sampled through the FDB’s routine Post-Market Surveillance activities and laboratory analysis conducted revealed that the product is substandard, therefore compromising its quality, safety and efficacy.

It said ACUMAL JUNIOR has not been granted marketing authorization (not registered) by the Food and Drugs Board to be sold on the Ghanaian market which is in contravention of section 18 of the Food and Drugs Law, PNDC Law 305B and its subsequent amendment Act 523, 1996. The law states that “No person shall manufacture, prepare, sell, supply, export or import into Ghana any drug, cosmetic, medical device or household chemical unless the article has been registered with the Food and Drugs Board…”

The release advised the general public not to patronize the product, and to report anyone found offering it for sale to the nearest FDB office. Furthermore, it said, any Wholesaler, Pharmacy or Licensed Chemical Shop that has in stock ACUMAL JUNIOR should immediately return them to the importer or to the Food and Drugs Board.

Meanwhile, the Board wishes to bring to the attention of the general public that there is in circulation on the Ghanaian market a variety of unregistered medicines, especially aphrodisiacs being offered for sale to unsuspecting consumers.

A couple of swoops, organized by the Food and Drugs Board with the assistance of the Police CID at Kaneshie, Okaishie and Agbogbloshie, revealed that some persons, under the guise of selling raw herbs, are actually dealing in some pharmaceutical products, especially sex-enhancing medicines with some of the medicines having only Chinese and other foreign language inscriptions.

Five (5) persons were however arrested during the swoop at Agbogbloshie and are assisting the Police in their investigations, after which the necessary sanctions would be applied according to the Law.

It is important for the public to note that the safety, quality or efficacy of medicines sold in unapproved premises cannot be guaranteed and therefore very likely to create severe health complications. These sex-enhancing medicines, which have inscriptions in Chinese, Akan, Russian and other foreign languages on the packaging, have not undergone any laboratory analysis or testing by the Food and Drugs Board and therefore their safety cannot be guaranteed.

The general public is therefore advised to ensure that they purchase medicines from ONLY approved premises (Licensed Chemical Shops and Pharmacies) since these places are licensed premises and are being manned by qualified personnel.

Persons selling these unapproved medicines are being reminded that it is an offence under Section 18 of the Food and Drugs Law, to offer for sale, supply, manufacture, prepare, export or import into Ghana any medicine unless they have been registered with the Food and Drugs Board.

Investigations are however underway to determine how these products get unto the Ghanaian market and the public is assured that anyone found culpable will be dealt with according to the Law.

Meanwhile, arrangements are being made to get the seized medicines destroyed.

Below are names of some of the seized unregistered products;

ME DE GYE WO KUNU (for women), My Sexy Secret (for women sex power), MAN & WOMAN CREAM, HIP UP cream (look young & firm-breast & buttocks enlargement), FANTA (to cure White), Black Warrior (aphrodisiac capsule),AK-47 (enlarge your penis & increase sexual stamina), 12TH NIGHT, B-MAN (exceed Viagra and cialis), BLACK SUPERMAN (makes it big, thick, long-lasting, increasing sperms), Beautiful Penis Augments Capsules, Herb Viagra, Big Penis (quickly enhance sexual power), THE KING (easy to be a man), Great Penis, Africa King, Virgin Powder (makes you a virgin even when you are not), ARABIAN CREAM (insert into vagina part) and Top Secret (tightening vagina & reduce lubricant).

The rest are; To Be Big Cream, Original Green Water (treats white and all kinds of diseases), LOVE PORTION CREAM (vaginal cream), Orginal Karyagado (made in Nigeria), Nyame Na Aye Pomade, Super Sex Capsules, Lump Sugar (dedee), ALHAJI ABDULAHI, CheChe TOUJOUR (true love cream-made in Nigeria), AMARIA candies (made in Nigeria), Super Strong 4 in 1 Men Cream (sexual excitement and long lasting, enlarging & bigger) made in Greece.

Others include; Yan Duniya, Aphridisiac Milk, Glo Power Multi Vitamin Caplets, Red Succuba, Lonely Girl, Hip Up Cream, Spain Black Butterfly, Feel Man (100% Healthy Food For Men), Men Gel, Playboy Bunny Girl, Love Cream (Touch Me), Come Unstopably, Cheche Toujour Cream D’amour, Ak-47, Sexual Love, Jaguar Power, Milk Aphrodisiac, Super Bonee Cream, Germany Kim Fox And Pomade Crocodile.

Additionally, information from the general public on persons dealing in these unregistered medicines or suspected to be in any practice possible of endangering public health and safety with respect to FDB’s mandate is most welcomed through any of the following contact numbers; 0244337235, 0244337252 or 0244385086.