Food and Drugs Board orders closure of Century Investments Company

Kumasi, March 30, GNA - The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has ordered the closure of Century Investments Limited, producers of Century Treated Water. Also ordered to stop production was Akufric Trading Enterprises, producers of "Oh Yes Drinking Water" at the same premises. A statement issued by the FDB and signed by Mr E.K. Agyarko, Chief Executive and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Monday said, the premises and manufacturing facilities of the company were to remain closed until the Board certified it. The statement added that the companies were to take steps to have their products registered by the Board.

The decision to close down the company followed the approval by the Minister of Health, Dr Kwaku Afriyie on 26th March, 2004, of a request made to him by the Board for permission to close down the company. In the letter to the Minister, the Board said its effort to get the premises and products of the company registered had been frustrated by the owners of the company. The letter said, the Board was not in a position to guarantee the safety and quality of the said products and therefore in accordance with Section 10 of the Food and Drugs Law (PNDCL 30513) which states that "the Secretary (Minister) of Health shall on the advice of the Board order the closure of any premises where food is manufactured, prepared or sold if the Board has reason to believe that the food is exposed to the risk of contamination."

A memorandum attached to the letter from the Zonal Officer of the Board in Kumasi to The Chief Executive, catalogued a number of times the Board had held meetings with the Managing Director of Century Investment Limited to stop production and complete the appropriate forms for the registration of the company's products but to no avail. The memorandum said Mr Patrick Adu-Gyamfi, the Managing Director of Century Investment Limited was again invited to the Zonal Office of the Board on March 17, 2004 and cautioned to stop using his unregistered premises for the production, distribution and sale of Century Treated Water and the supply of treated water to some institutions in Kumasi.

The memorandum said by 19th March, 2004, when it became obvious that the Managing Director had no intention of complying with the directive of the Board since he was still engaged in the production, distribution and sale of the products, the Zonal Office issued disclaimer in a press release in which the Board cautioned consumers that it could not guarantee the quality and safety of the products. It said as at March 25, 2004, the Zonal Office had evidence to the effect that Century Investments Limited and a sister company, Akufric Trading Enterprise, owned by the wife of Mr Adu-Gyamfi which produces "Oh Yes Drinking Water", were still producing, distributing and selling the unregistered products.

The memorandum warned that if the unauthorised production of the Century Treated Water and Oh Yes Drinking Water were allowed to continue, it would send wrong signals to other producers in the region as regards the authority and ability of the Board to regulate the activities of such companies.