An Accra Circuit Court Six, will on October 30, 2023, deliver judgment on the case involving two persons accused of unauthorized sale and distribution of unregistered diabetes drugs.
This is contrary to Section 118(1) of the Public Health Act 2012 (Acts 851) passed by Parliament to criminalize the sale of unauthorized drugs.
The court, had earlier notified the complainant who is also the President of Ghana Diabetes Association, Mrs. Elizabeth Esi Denyo, for judgment on October 19, but it was later adjourned.
This was when the accused failed to show up in court.
The accused , one , Mary Alemina,30 , a businesswoman and George Asante,42 , a marketer, were arrested at Adentan in the Greater Accra Region on November 26, 2021 for unauthorized sale and unregistered distribution of some drugs purported to be cure for diabetic patients.
The accused persons were, therefore charged with 12 counts ranging from conspiracy to commit unauthorized sales and distribution of unregistered drugs contrary to Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960, Act 19 to the last count of unauthorized sale and distribution of unregistered drug contrary to Section 118(1) of the Public Health Acts 2021, Acts 851.
According to the facts of the case presented by the prosecutor Chief Inspector Benneh, Mrs. Elizabeth Esi Denyo, President of Ghana Diabetes Association (complainant) accused Mary Alemina and George Asante of selling unauthorized and distribution of diabetes drugs leading to their arrest.
This was after the complainant started receiving calls on the Association’s official cell phone number from people requesting for a diabetes drug known as ‘insumed’ which she didnot know to be a registered drug by the Food and Drug Authority (FDA).
Apparently the fake drug dealers had used the official phone number of the Diabetes Association to advertise the drug as a way of giving it legitimacy.
In order to reveal the identity of those behind the fake drugs, however, Mrs. Denyo informed the police that, she has ordered for some of the drug online and someone has been dispatched to deliver it to her at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
According to Prosecution, the Police then laid ambush and arrested the dispatch rider together with some drugs including the said Insumed diabetes drug.
The dispatch rider then led a team of police Investigators and FDA officers to the office of the main suspect as of the time at Ritz junction who was selling and distributing the said drug .
In fact, they were seen in the process of packaging some of the drugs for distribution and sale.
The accused admitted being behind the fake drugs after interrogation.
They could not produce certificates or any documents to prove registration hence the FDA took custody of the drugs as exhibits and put the office under lock .
In court on October 19, 2023 the Presiding Judge adjourned the case to October 30, at 12 noon for judgment.
