FDA to go after ‘offending’ media houses

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has served notice of suing media houses which run advertisements on unlicensed products.

It said an inter-agency committee has already been set up to begin this process.

Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues on Saturday, October 31, the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Hudu Mogtari, said the committee has among its membership judges, security agencies, National Security operatives, officers of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and others from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

“What we have been doing is to educate media houses on the law of what you can and cannot advertise,” he revealed.

He said in the past some presenters had been rounded up for advertising banned products but there was public outcry against the Authority.

“We expect the general public to be behind us when we take action against such people,” Mr Mogtari pleaded.

On the recent adulteration of palm oil with Sudan IV dye, the FDA boss said officers have been moving from one market to another on a daily basis with the police to seize products containing the cancerous substance.

Already, 22 traders have been arrested over the matter.

Mr Mogtari said the situation has affected the international reputation of Ghana as the complaints about the cancerous substances first came from Ghanaians abroad.