Ghana’s regulatory authorities are tightening the noose on unauthorised product advertising, as the Food and Drugs Authority warns that both media houses and manufacturers will face tougher sanctions for flouting public health laws.
At a training session in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional Head of the FDA, Nathaniel Nana Kwabena Nkrumah, made it clear that ignorance of the law will no longer be tolerated, especially among radio presenters who often serve as key channels for product promotion.
The warning comes amid increasing concerns that some media platforms are airing advertisements for unapproved products, including medicines and alcoholic beverages, without the required clearance from the Authority.
According to Mr. Nkrumah, compliance does not end with product registration. Manufacturers must secure explicit approval before advertising, as stipulated under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).
He stressed that media practitioners could also be held legally accountable if they broadcast non-compliant advertisements, noting that ongoing monitoring had revealed widespread violations driven largely by lack of awareness.
The FDA has already begun intensified surveillance of radio stations, with offenders facing fines starting from GH¢25,000. However, the Authority signaled a shift toward harsher penalties, including product deregistration and possible prosecution.
Mr. Nkrumah expressed concern that some companies treat fines as routine business costs while continuing to mislead consumers with exaggerated claims about their products.
He warned that repeat offenders risk losing their licences entirely, effectively shutting them out of the market.
Describing the Ashanti Region as a “no-go zone” for regulatory breaches, he said the FDA would escalate enforcement measures to protect the public from harmful and deceptive products.
The Authority is now placing greater responsibility on the media to act as gatekeepers, urging journalists to verify approvals before airing advertisements.
“Human health cannot be exchanged for profit,” Mr. Nkrumah stressed, reinforcing the FDA’s commitment to safeguarding lives amid rising cases of misleading product promotions.
