The Accra Circuit Court has finally delivered judgment against two persons standing trial over the unauthorized sales and unregistered distribution of fake diabetes drugs on the internet contrary to Section 118(1) of the Public Health Act 2012 (Acts 851).
The two, Mary Alemina and George Asante were found guilty of eleven counts and were sentenced to a fine of 9000 penalty units which is equivalent to GHS 1,188,000.00 and in default, would serve 15 years imprisonment.
Giving the judgment in Court, on Monday, October 30, 2023, Her Honour Evelyn Asamoah, found the two accused persons guilty of the offences hence, the sentence.
In an interview, the Chairperson of International Diabetes Federation for Africa, Mrs, Elizabeth Esi Denyoh revealed that what she witnessed is a positive win for all diabetic patients in Ghana.
She dedicated the court victory to all those suffering from diabetes to serve as proof that, there are associations which will not bend the rules no matter what but rather will fight for their common interest.
“We are by this appealing to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) that Diabetes itself is a burden and is a specialist condition to scrutinized drugs and medication that come into the country for diabetics because people are dying,” she stated.
On his part, the interim President of the Ghana Diabetes Association, Mr. Stephen Quaye Cofie said the judgement is welcoming news for FDA, Ministry of Health and the Ghana Diabetes Association because these organizations have been battling the menace of fake diabetes drugs in the system.
It would be recalled that on November 26, 2021, the then President of the Ghana Diabetes Association (complainant) Mrs. Elizabeth Esi Denyoh reported the matter to police that, she had been receiving calls on the Association’s official cell phone number from people requesting for a diabetes drug known as ‘insured’ which she knows not to be registered by the Food and Drug Authority (FDA).
Mrs. Denyoh informed the police that, she had ordered some of the drugs online and someone had been dispatched to deliver it to her at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The Prosecution revealed that police laid ambush and arrested the dispatch rider together with some drugs including the said Insumed diabetes drug.
The dispatch rider led a team of police Investigators and FDA personnel to the office of accused persons who are selling and distributing the said drug at Ritz junction, Adenta, the two accused persons were met at the office processing some of the drugs for sale and distribution.
On November 26,2021, Mary Alemina, businesswoman and George Asante, a marketer were arrested at Adentan in the Greater Accra Region for the unauthorized sale and unregistered distribution of some drugs purported to be cured for diabetic patients.
The accused persons were therefore charged with 12 counts ranging from conspiracy to commit unauthorized sale and distribution of unregistered drugs: contrary to sections 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (ACT 29) and 118(1) of the Public Health Act 2012 (ACT 851), unauthorized sales and distribution of unregistered drug: contrary to section 118(1) of the Public Health Act 2012 (ACT 851), unauthorized sale and distribution of unregistered drug: contrary to section 118(1) of the Public Health Act 2012 (ACT 851), unauthorized sale and distribution of unregistered drug: contrary to section 118(1) of the Public Health Act 2012 (ACT 851) and unauthorized sale and distribution of unregistered drug: contrary to section 118(1) of the Public Health Act 2012 (ACT 851).
The rest are unauthorized sale and distribution of unregistered drugs: contrary to section 118(1) of the Public Health Act 2012 (ACT 851), unauthorized sale and distribution of unregistered drug: contrary to section 118(3) of the Public Health Act 2012 (ACT 851), unauthorized sale and distribution of unregistered drug: contrary to section 118(1) of the Public Health Act 2012 (ACT 851), unauthorized sale and distribution of unregistered drug: contrary to section 118(1) of the Public Health Act 2012 (ACT 851), unauthorized sale and distribution of unregistered drug: contrary to Section 118(1) of the Public Health Act 2012 (ACT 851) and unauthorized sale and distribution of unregistered drug: contrary to Section 118(1) of the Public Health Act 2012 (ACT 851).
