The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is facing significant enforcement hurdles in its efforts to remove the banned Grand Chateaux Sangria Forte from the Ghanaian market, despite issuing a nationwide recall directive two months ago.

In a statement released on 18 March 2025, the FDA announced the recall of the 250ml Sangria Tetra Pack over safety concerns. However, checks by JoyNews confirm that the product remains readily available for purchase, raising questions about the effectiveness of the enforcement process.

Speaking to JoyNews, the FDA’s Director of Enforcement, Vigil Prah Anshong, disclosed that the recall process has only been partially successful, with significant challenges, particularly at Ghana’s eastern border at Aflao.

“In March 2025, we issued a recall alert on this product, Sangria Tetra Pack 250ml. We directed the importer to ensure that everything was removed from the market within 14 days,” Mr Anshong explained.

“After that directive, they were only able to recall a fraction of the products. Out of the 33,811 cartons imported, they’ve recalled only 9,073 cartons.”

He added that a second phase of the recall — a mop-up operation — was initiated, but the situation became more complicated when it emerged that other unauthorised parties were importing the product into the country.

“They came back to us, informing us that other parties were also bringing the product into the market. We instructed the principal importer to continue the recall while we increased monitoring at the borders,” he said.

Despite these efforts, the FDA has encountered serious enforcement gaps, especially at the Aflao border, where importers are reportedly circumventing directives. “The challenge we face at the borders is significant. Once someone is determined to do business in a particular product line, no matter the impediment, they find a way to bypass the system,” Mr Anshong lamented.

The FDA is urging the public to refrain from consuming the product, especially children, warning that its packaging may appear attractive to unsuspecting parents who might mistake it for a harmless beverage.

“We advise parents not to purchase this product for their children. It is alcoholic and has been banned for safety reasons,” the FDA cautioned.

The Authority says it is working closely with customs officials and border security agencies to strengthen enforcement and complete the product’s withdrawal from the market.