Aphrodisiacs patronage high in Brong Ahafo
The Brong Ahafo Regional officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Mr Matthew Gyang Nkum, has expressed concern about the increase in the use of aphrodisiacs and body enhancement drugs among the youth and women in the region.
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He said aphrodisiacs and body enhancement drugs formed 70 per cent of the unwholesome drugs seized by the regional directorate of the FDA during its Post-Market Surveillance (PMS) in the region for the second quarter of this year.
He said most of these drugs were unregistered and their safety and efficacy could not be guaranteed.
Mr Nkum, therefore, cautioned the public not to patronise them, since they could be harmful to their health.
Mr Nkum expressed the concern during a press briefing prior to the destruction of unwholesome products worth GH¢24,300.60 at the Sunyani landfill site on Friday.
The products, including cosmetics, expired drugs, household chemicals, assorted non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, aphrodisiacs and food items, were seized from 400 shops in four municipalities and eight districts in the region.
The items were seized from traders in Sunyani, Wenchi, Kintampo, Asunafo North and Techiman municipalities, while the districts were Asunafo South, Asutifi North, Jaman North, Jaman South, Kintampo South, Dormaa West and Techiman North.
Mr Nkum said the products, which were not registered and had expired, were seized by the PMS Unit of the Authority in grocery shops, pharmacies, licensed chemical shops and cosmetic and herbal shops during its routine inspection.
He advised the public to check for the expiry dates, FDA registration numbers and packaging when buying any product.
Mr Nkum disclosed that a Sunyani Circuit Court had remanded into police custody one man who was arrested for selling unregistered body enhancement drugs which he claimed had the potency to increase the back size and breasts of women.
He, therefore, advised the public to buy their drugs from licensed chemical and pharmaceutical shops instead of drug peddlers.
By Samuel Duodu/Ghana
