The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is calling for a review of Ghana’s drug enforcement laws to introduce stiffer penalties for individuals involved in the illegal sale and abuse of Tramadol and other unregistered medicines.
This follows a recent enforcement operation in Nabulo, a community in the Upper West Region, where FDA officials uncovered a shop selling unregistered drugs, including Tramadol 500mg, a dosage banned under Ghanaian law, which only permits up to 100mg.
Although Ghana’s Public Health Act provides for fines of up to 1,500 penalty units or a prison sentence of up to 15 years for such offenses, the court imposed a fine of just 160 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢1,920. This outcome has sparked concern within the FDA, especially considering that the enforcement operation itself cost the Authority GH¢6,950.
According to Upper West Regional FDA Director, Sankpal Dafaari Kelvin, the lenient penalty sends the wrong message and undermines the Authority’s work.
Tramadol abuse has become a growing concern across the country, particularly among young people, commercial drivers, and laborers. Many misuse the drug for its sedative and euphoric effects, which can lead to serious health issues including seizures, addiction, and in extreme cases, death. The sale of high-dosage Tramadol, especially without proper regulation or prescription, continues to fuel this trend despite numerous public awareness campaigns and routine crackdowns.
The FDA believes that unless Ghana’s legal system is strengthened to reflect the severity of such offenses, illegal drug sales will continue to flourish. The Authority argues that light penalties not only fail to deter offenders but also make enforcement efforts unsustainable, especially when the cost of operations exceeds the fines imposed on violators.
Officials are now urging lawmakers, the judiciary, and other relevant institutions to take a closer look at the gaps in drug regulation enforcement. They emphasize that harsher penalties are necessary to curb the growing threat of Tramadol misuse and protect public health, especially among vulnerable populations.
The FDA has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting the illegal drug trade and promoting safe medication practices but insists that real change will only happen when the law catches up with the scale of the problem
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