Vendors take over lorry stations and markets

Many lorry stations in the capital have been taken over by drug vendors who sell fake drugs which have no efficacy and dangerous to the health of unsuspecting consumers.

The drug vendors carry their wares in transparent polythene bags which are exposed to the weather. They are commonly seen in the Dome and Madina, Mokola and Agbogbloshie markets, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Kaneshie, Tama Station bus terminal and Tudu and Abeka Lapaz.

With no pharmaceutical knowledge, these drug vendors dispense doses of drugs to their consumers based on the description of the symptoms of the ailments. To ensure quick sales, they sell their drugs cheaper than that of the licensed pharmacy shops. A drug sold for Ghc 3 at the licensed chemical shops is sold for Ghc1 by these vendors.

Osei Kweku, 28, sells drugs at Tema station in Accra. He admitted to Atinka News that, although he has no formal education in the business he does, he relies on the little education he gets from the pharmaceutical company he buys his wares from.

When it was pointed out to him that the drugs may lose their efficacy as a result of their exposure to the sun, he opined, “I do not sell my drugs in the afternoon. Basically, the people here don’t get sick in the afternoon. They often get reaction from the day’s hustle and bustle.’’

Osei said, his business is lucrative as he makes daily sales of GHc 400.

A 20-year-old head porter, Mariam, told this reporter she stopped buying drugs from the vendors since she didn’t get relieved after using the products on three different occasions.

A shoe seller, Osei said because the licensed chemical stores are far away from the station, he has no choice than to buy these drugs.

Head of the Drug Inspection Unit of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Mr. Thomas Amedzro told Atinka News that, his outfit is much aware of the activities of the these drug vendors.

“The FDA is aware of unlawful activities of quack drug sellers who have inundated lorry stations and market squares. Often, we go on a routine checkup in these areas to seize their wares and burn them. Mostly, the drugs they peddle are not authentic,” Mr. Amedzro disclosed.

He further disclosed that, because the drugs sold at the stations are exposed to intense sunlight, the content is dangerous to human health.