FDA demands severe sentences in Tramadol crackdown

The Upper West Regional office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is urging for harsher penalties for those involved in the illegal sale and misuse of Tramadol and other unregistered medications.

At a recent drug abuse awareness event hosted by Aware Minds Foundation for students in basic schools on July 18, FDA Regional Director Sankpal Dafaari Kelvin expressed that the current penalties are too lenient and fail to prevent repeat offences.

He shared an account of a recent operation in Nabulo, a community within the Sissala East Municipality, where his team uncovered a shop exclusively selling unregistered drugs, including the 500mg variant of Tramadol, known locally as “the red.”

According to Ghanaian law, only Tramadol up to 100mg is permitted for sale, rendering the 500mg version both illegal and hazardous.

“Something happened that made me vow never to fight Tramadol addicts again in the Upper West Region,” he told the students.

The raid on May 30 nearly escalated into violence when local residents attempted to attack the FDA officers the following day.

With the intervention of the Upper West Regional Minister and the police, the situation was eventually controlled, allowing for the arrest and transport of the suspect to Wa.

Initially, the suspect faced charges under Section 118 of the Public Health Act, which outlaws the sale of unregistered drugs, carrying a potential sentence of up to 15 years or a fine of 1,500 penalty units.

However, the court judgment resulted in only 160 penalty units, roughly GHC 1,920.

“I spent GHC 6,950 on fuel, accommodation, and logistics for that single operation. Is this judgment fair? If I decide not to fight Tramadol again, am I wrong?” he questioned.

Kelvin stated that such minimal penalties undermine enforcement efforts and squander essential public resources.

“I wanted someone to go to prison to serve as an example,” he added.

He also referred to another case from 2023, where the offender was initially fined GHC 2,000, later increased to GHC 4,000 following his challenge, although the suspect had attempted to resolve the matter informally with an offer of GHC 30,000—a proposition Kelvin declined.

In conclusion, the FDA regional director asserted that custodial sentences are vital for underscoring the gravity of illegal drug trafficking and deterring others from participating in the illicit trade.