Ghana regulator complains of fake toothpaste smuggling

The Brong-Ahafo Regional Office of Ghana's Food and Drugs Board (FDB), is reported to have destroyed more than 600 varieties of cartons of tooth pastes in the first quarter of 2008. The products, all counterfeit and contaminated were all smuggled into the country. This information came from FDB regulatory officer Enoch Cobina, in a sensitization forum for customers of Unilever Ghana Limited last weekend.

Apart from posing serious threats to local industries, the fake imports caused major health risks. Mr Cobina appealed to the general public to check and report any expired products found in the market, especially drugs, to the board for the necessary action to be taken.

Another speaker at the same event, Poland Detew Bour (Operational Manager of Unilever subsidiary Eye Awurade Ampaco Limited), underscored the health needs of individuals, while Unilever territorial manager Michael Ofori-Kumi announced that the company had reducedthe prices of its products to make them affordable for the general public, adding that, the company is now providing weekly credit sales to customers.