The Upper West Regional Director of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Sankpal Dafaari Kelvin, has renewed calls for stricter punishments for individuals involved in the illegal sale and abuse of Tramadol and unregistered drugs, describing current sanctions as too weak to deter offenders.
Speaking during a drug abuse sensitisation programme held on July 18 for basic school pupils and organised by Aware Minds Foundation, Kelvin recalled a disturbing recent incident in Nabulo, Sissala East Municipality, where the FDA uncovered a shop selling only unregistered drugs, including Tramadol 500mg - a dosage far above Ghana's legal limit of 100mg.
Kelvin detailed how the May 30 raid nearly escalated into violence when residents attempted to retaliate the following day.
Intervention from the police and Upper West Regional Minister prevented harm and led to the suspect's arrest.
