Fake ginger gin producer busted

A 50-year-old man has been arrested by the Greater Accra Regional Police Command for illegally replicating an alcoholic beverage known as Abe Nsuo Ginger Flavoured Gin.

The suspect, Emmanuel Laryea Saban, was arrested in an uncompleted building near Ravico Hotel at Nungua, a suburb of Accra where his workers were busily producing and packaging the gin.

Sergeant Kwabena Danso, Deputy Public Relations Office of the Greater Accra Regional Police Command told DAILY GUIDE that one Emmanuel Okyere, owner of Oheneba Kasempa Enterprise, which produces Abe Nsuo Ginger Flavoured Gin reported to the Police on May 23, 2013 that someone was replicating his products on the market.

The fake products, according to the Deputy PRO, had the trade mark of the original Abe Nsuo, which has become a household name lately.

Additionally, the counterfeit producer had the same package with the address and telephone numbers of Oheneba Kasempa Enterprise as well as the number of the Food and Drugs Authority.

He failed to seek the consent of the original manufacture who had obtained the mandate to produce Abe Nsuo Ginger Flavoured Gin in Ghana.

Sergeant Danso said the complainant led the police to the uncompleted building which served as a manufacturing factory of the fake Abe Nsu.

Sergeant Danso said “when the police arrested the illegal producer his workers were busily producing the adulterated Abe Nsuo and packing them into similar packaging bags.”

Four workers, who were all below 18 years, were not arrested.

Later, the suspect, who is being held at the Regional Police Station, in a caution statement, stated that he produced similar products which were not being patronized by the public.

The suspect told the Police that his product was called Goodman Abe Nsuo Ginger Flavour Gin, an alcoholic beverage.

However about a month ago he found out that patrons preferred the Kasempa original Abe Nsuo Ginger Flavoured Drink and decided to repackage his product.

“My customers always insist on buying only Oheneba Kasempa original Abe Nso instead of my product,” he indicated.

The Greater Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer advised the public to be on the look out for adulterated alcoholic beverages on the market.

He said the suspect would soon be put before an Accra Circuit court.