Berekum Court remands surety

A Circuit Court in Berekum in Brong-Ahafo Region has remanded a surety, Michael Akwah, a trader, to two weeks in prison custody for his failure to produce in court an accused person.

Akwah, who is to reappear before the court on Monday July 30, stood surety for Victor Owusu, 32, an alleged fake eye drop manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer who is charged for selling unregistered product, but jumped bail.

The court rejected Akwah’s plea for additional time to produce Owusu.

The presiding judge, Mr. Isaac Bright Akwantey, described the case as a serious matter that touched on public health, public morality and public policy.

He expressed regret that a number of people had become visually-impaired probably due to the effects of such fake medicine.

Police Inspector Moses Afari Obiri in charge of Berekum Police Station, the prosecutor in the case told the Ghana News Agency that Owusu owned Rapid Herbal Centre at Techiman whilst the second accused person; Felix Oppong, 22, was a salesman in charge of Berekum branch of the Centre.

He said on November 21, 2011, the complainants, Anita Nana Abla Ayayee and Mr. Jeremiah Ewudzie-Sampson, officials of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) in Sunyani were on duty in Berekum when they discovered that some herbal capsules and eye drops manufactured by the Centre and on sale in Oppong’s shop bore no registration mark.

Inspector Obiri said Oppong was arrested and he subsequently mentioned Owusu as the manufacturer and he was also arrested and the two were charged and granted bail to appear before the Court.

Owusu had since December 8, 2011 jumped bail and is now wanted by the Police.**