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0 A 40-foot large consignment of opioid-based pain relief medications containing dosages that far exceed the approved limits set by the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), have been confiscated at the Tema Port by security agencies.
The consignment was confiscated by a joint team from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), National Security, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
They include 26 cartons of Tapentadol 250 mg, 160 cartons of Tafradol 120 mg, 40 cartons of Timaking Tapentadol 120 mg, 190 cartons of Diazole Loperamide 2 mg, and 320 cartons of Chlorpheniramine Maleate, among others.
Madam Delese Mimi Darko, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the FDA, briefing the media after a joint inspection with Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, and the Commissioner for Customs, Brigadier General Ziblim Bawah Ayorrogo, Commissioner of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Division, said the consignment was in transit to Niger and not properly declared to Customs.
Madam Darko added that it was disclosed that the consignment came with no manufacturer label, making it difficult to tell its origin, adding, however, that they suspect it was coming from India “as normally when you take the trip out, you will see made in India.”
Mr Akandoh, the Minister of Health, said they would obtain the necessary court order for its proper disposal, adding that investigations are also underway by the necessary agencies and those found culpable would be dealt with according to the laws.
He said that as much as Ghana was ready to facilitate trade, it would not allow Ghana to be a haven for opioids, indicating that the president was personally interested in the matter and has promised to provide the needed logistics to the agencies to crack down on the practice.
“Per our laws, there are only two designated areas for the import and export of drugs: the Tema Port and Kotoka International Airport. Drugs are not imported through our land borders, and therefore, I encourage all stakeholders and security agencies to confiscate any drugs, even if it’s paracetamol, which comes through our land borders,” he said.
He added that Ghana was also looking at tightening its regulations regarding transit goods, as according to him, the dealers usually hide behind transit goods and bring such goods into the country, adding that they were contacting the Niger government to know if they have okayed such a consignment.
He, however, said “even if they have, we will not allow our ports to be a transit point for illegal or unapproved drugs. I have asked for the whereabouts of the importers or the exporters and very soon will receive an update on them.”
He encouraged the public to provide information on such items to the relevant institutions, indicating that without that they would not be able to do much, announcing that they would be embarking on raids as opioids could destroy the country, especially the youth.
Mr Akandoh said the effects of such opioid products were very bad and could even affect the productivity of the country, stressing that they are illegal and unauthorised.
He commended the security agencies for their good work, noting that even though they were doing their job, the political drive to push it further was also needed, emphasising that the president was also engaging his colleagues across the sub-region to find a solution to the influx of opioids on the continent.
