Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), in collaboration with other security agencies, has intensified efforts to curb the flow of unregistered pharmaceuticals into the country, following the recent arrest of a passenger at the Aflao border.
The suspect, identified as Hawa Fuseini on her Ghana Card, but listed as ‘Assindo Awa’ on the Nagode Transport vehicle’s manifest, was detained on Friday, May 9, 2025, for allegedly attempting to smuggle a significant haul of unregistered aphrodisiacs and controlled substances into Ghana.
The interception occurred around 5:30 p.m. at the Vehicle Examination section of the Aflao border. Officials discovered the contraband, including Viagra (sildenafil), Spanish Gold Fly, Diazepam, Rohypnol, and Tramadol Red, concealed within a carton of Cream Cracker biscuits aboard a bus with registration number TG 5846 BN, driven by Babayara Rashid and en route from Lome, Togo, to Accra.
Mr. Gorden Akurugu, the Volta Regional Director of the FDA, emphasized that the drugs were neither registered nor certified for import, posing a significant public health risk. He noted that such potent pharmaceuticals are tightly regulated, with importation restricted to designated ports like Kotoka International Airport and Tema Harbour, underlining the suspect’s clear breach of import protocols.
“We have turned our border operations into 24-hour surveillance zones, conducting 100 percent inspections to curb this dangerous trade,” Akurugu told the Ghana News Agency. He called on Ghana’s neighboring countries to be more vigilant, stressing that collective efforts are essential to prevent the influx of substandard and potentially harmful drugs into the region.
The suspect is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, May 12, 2025, to face charges related to the illegal importation of unapproved drugs, as confirmed by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Eric Bamfo, the Aflao District Police Crime Officer.
This incident highlights the ongoing battle against the smuggling of unregulated pharmaceuticals, which often find their way into local markets, posing a danger to public health and undermining the efforts of regulatory bodies like the FDA.
