Over-The-Counter Medicine Seller Jailed 17 Years for Selling Expired Drugs

The Sunyani Circuit Court has sentenced an over-the-counter medicine seller, Nana Agyeman Badu, to 17 years imprisonment.

The convict was arrested in 2022 by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in collaboration with the Bono Regional Police Command when expired medical products were found on sale in his shop located at Chiraa in the Bono Region.

Conviction

The court presided over by His Honour, Sylvester Nii Okine Ablorh, found him guilty on April 29, 2025, for selling, offering for sale, and exhibiting for sale prohibited medical products.

He was therefore handed 17 years imprisonment with hard labour in addition to a fine of GHS 12,000.00.

Failure to pay the fine would attract an additional 2-year prison term, the FDA announced in a statement.

Caution
The FDA used the occasion to caution the public against expired products.

“The public is hereby advised that expired medical products are unsafe, as there are chemical changes that may cause harmful side effects or treatment failure.”

Assurance
The Authority also assured the public of its dedication to ensuring the safety and efficacy of medical products available to the public.

It also reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health and safety by enforcing strict regulations and collaborating with stakeholders to prevent the sale of unregistered and/or expired FDA-regulated products.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini