News
Man sentenced to 17 years for selling expired medical drugs
A Sunyani Circuit Court has sentenced Nana Agyeman Badu, an Over the Counter medicine seller to 17 years imprisonment in hard labour.
The court which was presided over by Sylvester Nii Okine Ablorh also fined him of GH Ȼ12,000, which failure to pay will attract an additional two-year prison term.
Nana Agyeman Badu was sentenced for selling, offering for sale and exhibiting for sale prohibited medical products.
In a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and copied to The Spectator in Accra on Wednesday, it said the authority, as part of its mandate and in collaboration with the Bono Regional Police Command seized some expired medical products in 2022 from Nana Agyeman Badu.
It said the matter was duly handed over to the Police for prosecution and on April 29, 2025, Mr Badu was sentenced to prison.
The FDA has, therefore, reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health and safety by enforcing strict regulations.
It also said it was collaborating with stakeholders to prevent the sale of unregistered or expired FDA –regulated products.
The FDA has therefore cautioned the public against the use of expired medical products saying “the public is hereby advised that expired medical products are unsafe, as there are chemical changes that may cause harmful side effects or treatment failure.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today commenced its second Zonal Public Hearing in Kumasi Ashanti Region to examine the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report on public schools and District Assemblies yesterday, April 20, 2026.
In her opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Committee, Abena Osei Asare noted that the Committee will consider four (4) Auditor – General’s reports, namely, District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) & Other Statutory Funds, The Accounts of District Assemblies for the Financial Year (IGF), Pre-University Education Institutions and lastly Colleges of Education in the year ending 31st December 2024.
She assured the various District Assemblies and other institutions invited to respond to infractions cited in the Auditor-General’s report that the Committee would be transparent in asking questions as well as granting opportunities to all to explain issues to the Committee.
Abena Osei Asare, allowed the Ranking Member of the Committee, Samuel Atta Mills to chair the sitting with the explanation that her government was in power then, therefore she could not chair over Auditor-General reports of 2024.
The Ghana Audit Service has issued a correction to its Auditor General’s report on the nationwide payroll audit, clarifying that a GH¢427,995,661.40 figure wrongly attributed to a public servant was due to a transpositional error.
In a press release dated April 21, 2026, the Service explained that the amount earlier linked to Frank Oliver Kpodo does not belong to him.
It stated that the figure rather relates to unaccounted staff under the Ministry of Education during the payroll audit covering the period from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025.
The Service expressed concern over media reports that cited Mr Kpodo as having received the amount as unearned salary, stressing that the attribution was an error.
It offered an unreserved apology to Mr Kpodo for the distress and public scrutiny the mistake may have caused.
The Service also apologised to the Government, the people of Ghana, and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department for the error.
According to the corrected report, the GH¢427.9 million is linked to 3,476 unaccounted staff under the Ministry of Education, making it the highest figure recorded in the audit.
The nationwide payroll audit covered 6,270 records across several public institutions, with a total salary value of GH¢801,808,427.04.
Other institutions captured in the report include the Judicial Service of Ghana, the Electoral Commission of Ghana, and the Ministry of Health, among others.
The Audit Service noted that the corrected summary has been provided to ensure accuracy and maintain public trust in its work.
It reaffirmed its commitment to accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.
By: Jacob Aggrey
