An Open Letter to the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s Food and Drugs Administration (FDA)
On May 14, 2013, knowing that my certificate to sell the food supplement, KOBOSUMENS Prostate Support, in Ghana was due to expire in August 2013, I submitted an application to renew my certificate/registration. The fact that my application is a renewal indicates that this is a product that has been approved by Ghana’s Food and Drugs Administration to be marketed in Ghana. Since it is a renewal, one would think the application process will be smooth. As of May 14, 2014, a year after I had submitted my application for renewal, Ghana’s FDA has not renewed my certificate to allow me to continue selling the supplement in Ghana. The fact of the matter is that two years ago, I paid the US$1,500 fee covering a three-year approval period. However, FDA issued me a certificate for only a period of one year insisting that I have to renew the certificate every year without paying any further fees for the next two years. FDA has already charged me a fee of GHC50 for the renewal.
On February 27, 2014 I sent e-mail to the Chief Executive Officer of FDA (Mr. Hudu Mogtari) regarding the delay in renewing my certificate but he did not respond to my mail. Nine days later, on March 08, 2014, I sent another e-mail him. Again, he ignored the e-mail. Then on March 24, 2014 I sent a third e-mail, and again he did not bother to respond.
Now, I have to ask, what is the use of a government official, who does not respond to mails from stakeholders? What are Ghanaians paying Mr. Mogtari for? What are Ghanaians paying the officials of FDA for if it takes them a year to renew certificate or registration? Yes, this is just a renewal!
Since Ghana’s FDA prevented me (by delaying renewal) from selling my product the past year, and since I have paid a three-year fee, when FDA eventually renews my certificate would it be for a period of one or two years? Please remember that I have utilized only one out of the three years I paid for.
Kwaku Obosu-Mensah
komensah@hotmail.com
Below, please find a copy of the letter I sent to the CEO of FDA. All the letters were the same.
I take this opportunity to congratulate you on assumption of the position of the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana's Food and Drugs Authority. I am hopeful that you will use your position to ensure that FDA works smoothly and efficiently for the benefit of all Ghanaians. I make this call because many a time, our subordinates do not do their work and bosses are not always aware of the sloppiness of the subordinates.
The purpose of writing this mail is to draw your attention to the impediments I (KOBOSUMENS ENTERPRISE) am encountering at the hands of FDA officials. In 2012 my product, Prostate Support, which is produced by a lab here in the US was approved by FDA for sale in Ghana. Even though I paid US$1,500 for the three-year registration, the approval letter from FDA indicated that the product was approved for sale in Ghana for one year, renewable after the year. It was made clear to me that since I have paid for three years, I did not have to pay any fees for the renewal. In May 2013, I submitted my renewal application. Unfortunately, as of today February 18, 2014 (nine months later), all that I have is an acknowledgement letter dated June 4, 2013. My file number is FDA/HMD/HMU/FS.12/13. I really don't understand why it is taking this long for the FDA to renew a product which it approved only a year ago, and which has been on the Ghanaian market for a year.
I hope that you will use your good offices to ensure that the official who has my file expedites action on the renewal
Greetings,
Kwaku Obosu-Mensah
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