To whichever institutions in the country are responsible for giving out, or have taken it upon themselves to give, national recognition at awards ceremonies to hardworking institutions, the Ghanaian Times wishes to propose a deserving candidate: The Food and Drugs Board (FDB).
Like many publicly funded institutions, the FDB has had its fair share of criticisms for past acts of commission and omission.
For example, the public has had cause to question why certain foods and drugs not certified or approved for sale to the public have been advertised on radio and television. When the board made some noises and checks were made with the presumably radio stations, it was discovered that the advertisements had been approved by the board.
Of course, in a country that is fast gaining a reputation for corruption, it has been noted that in the past, some staff of the board would, for a certain consideration - usually the love of the brown envelope (or black polythene bags) - approve advertisements for products that had not been subjected to laboratory analysis for proof of the veracity or otherwise of the claims.
While no-one can swear that this practice is history or that there are no cases of bribery involving manufacturers and importers, there is evidence that the FDB has received a touch of transformation in its ways. It is born-again.
The Times has noticed a certain determination among officials to prove that the board does indeed exist for the protection of the people. The board’s recent order for the confiscation of those herbal drugs advertised as being efficacious for the treatment of piles and other diseases is a case in point.
Another is the prosecution of the pastor who was arrested for selling an unregistered drug. There are other cases that have come to the notice of the Times which give us cause for hope that we are witnessing a new era.
The ball, we dare say, however, is in the court of the public. It is up to the people of Ghana to be vigilant. The FDB officers cannot be everywhere. They will depend on the public to report cases of breaches of the law.
Also, although the board has had occasion to appeal to the public to read the inscription on labels on foods and drugs, it is sad to note that this is seldom heeded.
Thus, the public buys expired drugs, or foods and drugs without any indication as to the date of manufacture and/or expiry.
Evidently more education is needed. This is a task that must be done, and we believe that the FDB owes it to its mandate to protect the public from itself.
To radio and television stations, our plea is simple. Advertising revenues are important, yes; but the health of the people is paramount over all other considerations.
Like many publicly funded institutions, the FDB has had its fair share of criticisms for past acts of commission and omission.
For example, the public has had cause to question why certain foods and drugs not certified or approved for sale to the public have been advertised on radio and television. When the board made some noises and checks were made with the presumably radio stations, it was discovered that the advertisements had been approved by the board.
Of course, in a country that is fast gaining a reputation for corruption, it has been noted that in the past, some staff of the board would, for a certain consideration - usually the love of the brown envelope (or black polythene bags) - approve advertisements for products that had not been subjected to laboratory analysis for proof of the veracity or otherwise of the claims.
While no-one can swear that this practice is history or that there are no cases of bribery involving manufacturers and importers, there is evidence that the FDB has received a touch of transformation in its ways. It is born-again.
The Times has noticed a certain determination among officials to prove that the board does indeed exist for the protection of the people. The board’s recent order for the confiscation of those herbal drugs advertised as being efficacious for the treatment of piles and other diseases is a case in point.
Another is the prosecution of the pastor who was arrested for selling an unregistered drug. There are other cases that have come to the notice of the Times which give us cause for hope that we are witnessing a new era.
The ball, we dare say, however, is in the court of the public. It is up to the people of Ghana to be vigilant. The FDB officers cannot be everywhere. They will depend on the public to report cases of breaches of the law.
Also, although the board has had occasion to appeal to the public to read the inscription on labels on foods and drugs, it is sad to note that this is seldom heeded.
Thus, the public buys expired drugs, or foods and drugs without any indication as to the date of manufacture and/or expiry.
Evidently more education is needed. This is a task that must be done, and we believe that the FDB owes it to its mandate to protect the public from itself.
To radio and television stations, our plea is simple. Advertising revenues are important, yes; but the health of the people is paramount over all other considerations.
