The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has refuted claims suggesting it has approved the sale of COVID-19 vaccines in Ghana.
It follows an attempt by some persons to sell the said approved vaccines to hospitals and other health facilities across the country.
“It has come to the attention of the FDA that some unscrupulous members of the business community are peddling information on the sale of COVID-19 vaccines to hospitals and other health facilities,” the Chief Executive of FDA, Delese Darko, said in a statement.
“The information is ostensibly to inform the general public of the availability of these vaccines from well-known pharmaceutical brands indicating their price ranges.”
The Authority has cautioned the public to ignore the news.
“In view of the above, the FDA wishes to inform all health facilities and the general public that, peddling of such information contravenes Section 118 of the Public Health Act 2012, Act 851 and constitutes a very serious offence.
“The Authority wants to assure the general public that it remains committed to protecting the health and safety of consumers,” the statement added.
“Anyone caught dealing with unregistered COVID-19 vaccine will be sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of Section 129 of Act 851, which includes a fine of up to GHS 180,000 or to a term of imprisonment of up to 25 years or both.”
The FDA said the Ministry of Health will issue a national policy on the use of COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved in the country.
