The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has called on media houses across Ghana to exercise greater responsibility by demanding approval documents from advertisers before publishing or airing food and drug promotions. The regulator explained that this requirement is not optional but a legal obligation designed to protect the public from harmful and unverified products.
The caution was issued by the Ashanti Regional Principal Regulatory Officer of the FDA, Prince Ohene Gyan, during an interview on Otec FM’s Nyansapo programme, hosted by KOB. He stressed that media organizations play a pivotal role in shaping consumer choices and therefore must ensure that only safe and approved products are promoted through their platforms. According to him, the failure of some outlets to verify the authenticity of advertisements has created an avenue for unscrupulous individuals to flood the market with dangerous and misleading products.
Mr. Ohene Gyan explained that any food or drug advertised in the country without FDA authorization constitutes a breach of the law, adding that both the manufacturers and the media outlets that promote such products will face sanctions. He revealed that offenders risk fines starting from GH₵25,000, a penalty that reflects the seriousness with which the authority views such violations. He urged media houses to build approval checks into their advertising processes by insisting on seeing FDA letters and full product details before agreeing to broadcast or publish.
He expressed worry over the growing presence of unapproved and fake products on the market, pointing out that many of them are promoted through radio, television, and print without scrutiny. He said this practice misleads consumers into believing the products are safe when, in reality, some carry serious health risks. The role of the media in amplifying these false claims, he noted, cannot be ignored, and it is therefore crucial for media institutions to recognize that their credibility and responsibility to the public are at stake.
Mr. Ohene Gyan emphasized that the FDA is determined to clamp down on offenders and will not hesitate to sanction any institution, regardless of its size or influence, if it is found to be complicit in advertising unapproved goods. He appealed to media houses to position themselves as allies of the FDA in protecting public health rather than serving as channels for exploitation.
He assured that the authority remains open to collaboration with media outlets, offering guidance and support to ensure that the Ghanaian public is only exposed to safe, approved, and credible products. By demanding proof of FDA approval, he said, media organizations will not only be complying with the law but also playing an essential role in safeguarding the well-being of millions of consumers across the country.
