FDA Cracks Down on Opioid Abuse Nationwide

Accra, Ghana - 13 April, 2025 - Ghana's Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has launched a nationwide operation to combat the growing abuse of opioids.

The initiative, conducted in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Commission, Ghana Revenue Authority Customs Division, Pharmacy Council, and Ghana Police Service's Drug Law Enforcement Unit, aims to protect public health and safety.

At a media briefing on April 11, Dr. Olivia Agyekumaa Boateng, FDA's Director of Tobacco and Substance Abuse, reiterated the authority's commitment to addressing opioid misuse. According to her, the FDA plans to enhance collaboration with stakeholders and boost public awareness about the dangers of opioid abuse.

“We are telling everybody that we are coming at them. This is affecting our youth, and we are coming at them with a lot of strategies, apart from the public education that we are doing on the dangers that these drugs have on their daily lives,” she stated.

The operation involves removing illicit drugs from the market, which are fueling the growing abuse, and providing support for those already addicted. The FDA is working with mental health professionals to offer psycho-support to individuals struggling with addiction. Dr. Boateng stressed the importance of strict control over opioid distribution and sale to prevent further abuse.

“It is important to raid the market of what has already entered the country that is fuelling the abuse. We are also going to ensure that there is strict broader control. Then we are collaborating with mental health, so that already addicted persons can receive some form of psycho-support,” she added.

Source: Lead News Online