In a recent court case at the Circuit Court in Accra, a 47-year-old herbalist named Abdallah Awal was convicted for the manufacturing of unregistered and unapproved medicine intended to cure Covid-19. The presiding judge, Her Honour Mrs Afia Owusua Appiah, handed down a sentence of a fine amounting to 7500 penalty units, which is equivalent to GHc90,000. The court warned that failure to pay the fine would result in a 15-year custodial sentence.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Amoah Richard of the Legal and Prosecution Unit at the CID Headquarters, successfully proved Abdellah Awal's guilt on multiple charges. These included manufacturing herbal medicinal products without authority, manufacturing unregistered herbal medicinal products, attempting to sell unregistered herbal medicinal products, manufacturing herbal medicine in unregistered premises, and storage of herbal medicine in unregistered premises. These actions were deemed to be in contravention of Section 130(1) and 142 of the Public Health Act 2012, Act 851.
In contrast, the second accused, Bin Musah Abdallah, 27, was acquitted and discharged. He had been charged with abetment and attempt to sell unregistered herbal medicinal products.
The case stemmed from an incident on June 2, 2020, when officials from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) acted on intelligence and apprehended Abdallah Awal and Bin Musah Abdallah. The authorities discovered a significant quantity of herbal medicinal products at the premises, including bottles labeled as a cure for COVID-19. It was revealed that these products had not been registered with the FDA, and the premises used for their production were also unregistered.
During the investigation, Abdallah Awal claimed ownership of the exhibits and implicated Bin Musah as his assistant in advertising the products on social media and printing the product labels. Bin Musah admitted to these actions in his own statement.
The outcome of this case serves as a reminder of the legal requirements and regulations surrounding the manufacturing and sale of medicinal products. The conviction of Abdallah Awal underscores the serious consequences of producing unregistered and unapproved medicines, particularly in the context of public health crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is crucial for individuals and businesses involved in the production and sale of medicinal products to adhere to established protocols and regulations to ensure the safety and efficacy of their products. The role of regulatory bodies such as the FDA is instrumental in safeguarding public health by enforcing these standards.
As for Abdallah Awal, the court's decision stands as a deterrent against unlawful practices in the pharmaceutical industry. The outcome of this case sends a clear message about the legal repercussions of disregarding regulatory requirements in the production and sale of medicinal products.
-source starrfm | curated by Aisha Yakubu | Ghana Crimes
