The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in the Western North Region has seized quantities of prohibited mixed drinks containing alcohol and stimulants during a four-day market surveillance exercise across the region.
The operation, carried out from April 27, 2026, covered six major towns including Sefwi Wiawso, Sefwi Bekwai, Awaso, Asawinso, Juaboso and Bibiani with support from the Ghana Police Service.
The exercise forms part of efforts to enforce a directive by the FDA ordering all importers, manufacturers and distributors to remove such products from the market by the end of March 2026.
A total of 85 wholesale and retail outlets were inspected during the exercise, out of which 14 were found displaying and selling the prohibited products.
In Sefwi Bekwai and Awaso, five out of 21 outlets inspected were found dealing in the drinks. Similarly, five out of 20 outlets in Asawinso and Juaboso were cited for selling the products, while four out of 19 outlets in Bibiani were also found noncompliant.
However, no prohibited products were found in any of the 25 outlets visited in Sefwi Dwenase and Datano.
All identified brands of mixed drinks containing alcohol and stimulants were seized during the exercise.
FDA officials also engaged shop owners, educating them on why the sale of such products is prohibited and the potential health risks associated with their consumption.
The Authority maintains that the combination of alcohol and stimulants poses a serious threat to public health, hence the need for strict enforcement.
As part of its next steps, the FDA says it will extend surveillance activities to drinking bars, pubs and restaurants to ensure that all such products are removed from circulation.
The Authority has reaffirmed its commitment to continuous regulatory action to safeguard public health and safety in the Western North Region.
Source: 3news.com
