The Food and Drugs Authority, FDA, has expressed worry over the increase in unregistered hand sanitisers on the Ghanaian market following the shortage of hand sanitisers in parts of the country.
The FDA maintained that although individuals or organisations may be producing the products with the aim of meeting the needs of Ghanaians in the wake of the novel Coronavirus, there is still the need to seek FDA approval and certification before sale. The Upper West Regional Head of the FDA, Albert Ankomah said this in an interview with GBC at Wa.
After the announcement of the initial 2 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ghana, many cities across the country are said to have recorded shortage of hand sanitisers, nose masks and hand gloves. The situation led to some individuals taking unto the streets and flooding the internet with homemade hand sanitisers.
Although such homemade and unregistered products are yet to hit the markets of the Upper West Region, the Foods and Drugs Authority says it is taking steps to ensure that consumers are safe.
The Upper West Regional Head of the FDA, Albert Ankomah, encouraged organisations and individuals who want to produce hand sanitisers to take advantage of the FDA’s fast track registration process to register their hand sanitiser products.
He said due to the critical situation Ghana finds itself in, the FDA has channeled resources into ensuring that processes leading up to the registration and certifications of hand sanitisers are quickened.
“Some people will want to put in measures to meet the demand. The fact that we need a product to help to sanitise our hands and prevent the spread of the disease does not mean we can just put out anything. If the purpose of the hand sanitizer is not achieved, then we are not going to prevent the spread of this disease. What FDA is doing is we are fast tracking the registration of hand sanitizers.”
“There is a procedure for the manufacturer of hand sanitisers. With all the ingredients that you need to together [to make a hand sanitisers], you have to do it well so that you will not be using contaminated ingredients,” he said.
The Regional Head of the FDA continued that “as the President said, the time is not normal so I would not say we are going to start sanctioning strictly. The law however still remains, you have to do the right thing. The Constitution has not been put on hold and so all the laws under it are working. So the Public Health Act is still working”.
Meanwhile, Mr Ankomah is appealing to clients who visit the Regional Office of the FDA to comply with strict directives to visit the hand washing station before interacting with staff of the Authority. He said the office has provided running water in Veronica Buckets along with soap and hand sanitisers. The FDA has also put on hold on regional trainings and seminars in compliance with directives from the Presidency and the Ministry of Health.
Mr Ankomah encouraged hotels and restaurants to ensure good sanitary practices. He said although the COVID-19 is not transmitted through food, hotels and restaurants should not compromise on meeting the protocols put in place by the Presidency and the Ministry of Health.
Story filed by Mark Smith.
