The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has intercepted 120 boxes of unregistered Hepatitis B vaccines at Aflao on the Ghana-Togo border in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region.
The pharmaceutical products were being smuggled into Ghana through Togo, in a Nigeria-plated Toyota commercial vehicle.
Officials of the FDA discovered the vaccines during a routine check on the night of 11th March 2025.
The items, which were not registered were concealed in the door compartment, and in the tire area.
The Volta Regional Director of FDA, Gordon Akurugu explained it took the vigilance of his officials to intercept the contraband.
He lamented the effects on the health of citizens if those drugs which were compromised had made their way into the Ghanaian markets.
“By law, drugs are not supposed to pass through the inland borders, so it is seizure outright. But unfortunately, these were canceled, between the doors and under the tires. And these are vaccines that are supposed to be stored under 2-8 degrees Celsius.
“Imagine where it was kept and it was going to be used on people or patients, so the integrity of the product in question is even compromised. Aside from that the products are not registered by FDA so we can’t guarantee the safety and quality of it”, he said.
Mr. Akurugu said that the driver identified as Obina is in police custody and will be arraigned before the court on 13th March 2025.
“He claimed somebody gave it to him, that is the story, but he is to face the full rigors of the law. Tomorrow we are going to court. He is still with the police”, he said.
He indicated his outfit continues to detain pharmaceutical products that are of commercial quantity with owners claiming they are for personal use at the border.
Mr. Akurugu cautioned residents of the West-African sub-region to use the ports in exporting pharmaceutical products to Ghana, ensure the necessary documentations are done and avoid the inland borders as the laws do not permit that.
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