The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has suspended the operations of nine sachet water producers in the Western North Region over an expired registration licence.

The sachet water producers are within the Wiawso Municipality and the Bia West and East Districts.

Mr Albert Ankamah, Western North Regional Director of the FDA, told the Ghana News Agency (FDA) that the exercise to clamp down on unlicensed producers was a directive from the Acting CEO to ensure safety among producers.

According to him, the exercise was to ensure that water producers, food and drug manufacturers complied with good manufacturing, hygienic and storage practices to ensure the safety of consumers.

The exercise, according to the Regional Director, would be extended to all the districts within the region and advised sachet water producers to take advantage of the existence of the FDA office in the region to register their products.

Mr Ankamah explained that per the Public Health Act, it was illegal to sell, manufacture and store products in an unlicensed facility and asked producers to initiate the processes leading to the licensing of their manufacturing or storage facilities and registration so as not to fall foul of the law.

He advised the public to always buy products regulated and registered by the FDA and to endeavour to cross-check to ensure it was truly registered.

Mr Ankamah announced that the FDA was assisting producers and manufacturers with a programme called the “Progressive Licensing Scheme” with financial support from the Ghana Enterprise Agency, and asked producers within the region to take advantage of the initiative to register their products.

He hinted that “The sale and use of Tramadol has reduced significantly as a result of a series of training workshops for over-the-counter medicine operators and education in junior and senior high schools within the region.”

He said the FDA  would continue to collaborate with the police and the Narcotics Control Authority to fight the sale and use of illicit drugs in the region.