In the bustling markets of Keta, Anloga, Akatsi, Agbozume, Aflao, and Ho, and along the Aflao-Accra highway, hawkers sell not only local goods but also tablets, capsules, syrups, and herbal concoctions without prescription, licence, or knowledge of their contents. This widespread practice, known as "medicine in the streets," is under-reported across the Volta Region and Ghana. GNA checks found the practice pervasive in many major market centres, driven by economic hardship and a healthcare system that many find too expensive, distant, or slow.
The law prohibits street hawking of medicines, with offenders facing prosecution, fines, imprisonment, and seizure of goods under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851). Only licensed pharmacies, chemical sellers, and registered health facilities may sell medicines. Mr. Gorden Akurugu, FDA Head for the Volta and Oti Region, stated that Section 122 of Act 851 bars importing medicines without a permit, and medicines may only enter Ghana through Kotoka International Airport and Tema Harbour, not land borders.
The trade thrives in various locations, including Dabala Junction, Sogakope bus stop, the Aflao border enclave, and major highways. Products sold include painkillers, antibiotics, antimalarials, cough syrups, multivitamins, contraceptives, and herbal concoctions. Opioid painkillers and tramadol are also sold, fuelling concern about youth drug abuse. Some of these products reportedly enter through the Aflao border.
Investigations trace the practice to poverty and unemployment, especially in areas where fishing and farming are vulnerable to coastal erosion and seasonal disruption. Madam Adzo Amedeka, a 35-year-old single mother of four selling drugs at Aflao market, buys in bulk from local pharmacies and sometimes smuggles supplies from Togo. She uses the business to support her family.
The FDA and Pharmacy Council have been tasked with periodic raids, public education, and better logistics to curb hawking. A deep-rooted culture of self-medication and low health literacy sustains the trade, as many see no difference between buying paracetamol from a pharmacy or a hawker. The porous border of Aflao enables entry of unregistered and smuggled medicines.
Risks associated with the trade include wrong dosage, expired or counterfeit drugs, and adverse reactions. Madam Margaret Dovlo, Health Promotion Officer at the Keta Municipal Health Directorate, noted that indiscriminate antibiotic sales fuel antibiotic resistance, a global health emergency. Deaths and long-term disability from drug misuse have reportedly occurred in several districts.
Preventing unauthorised drug sales requires sustained, multi-pronged action, including regular raids, public education, and improved access to healthcare. Stakeholders, including police, town councils, and environmental authorities, have pledged to collaborate to curb the trade.
Key points
- The trade is driven by economic hardship and limited access to healthcare.
- The practice poses significant health risks, including wrong dosage and antibiotic resistance.
- Preventing the trade requires a multi-pronged approach, including education and improved healthcare access.
