Press release: Police, FDB search Yafo Yafo manufacturing/ warehouse facility

Since 2009, Frank Paul Ventures has never registered any of the listed herbal medicines - FDB

Police officers from CID Headquarters together with FDB officials seized large quantities of unregistered herbal medicines, raw materials and packaging materials at an unlicensed premise (at Mamprobi) where Yafo Yafo herbal products are being produced and packaged. The unregistered herbal medicines include the following

1. YAFO TONIC
2. YAFO FEVER MIXTURE
3. YAFO KOO BITTERS
4. YAFO PIONEER CAPSULES
5. YAFO PIONEER MIXTURE
6. YAFO MANPOWER CAPSULES
7. YAFO ADOM WO WIM MIXTURE
8. YAFO ACTION BITTERS (JACKET)

Since 2009, Frank Paul Ventures has never registered any of the above listed herbal medicines with the Food and Drugs Board though the products are on the Ghanaian market; and this action flouts Section 24(1) of the Food and Drugs Law, PNDCL 305 B states that 'No person shall manufacture, prepare, sell, supply, distribute, export or import any herbal medicine or homeopathic drug, unless the herbal medicine or homeopathic drug has been registered with the Food and Drugs Board.'

Moreover, the manufacturing facility of Frank Paul Ventures (Yafo Yafo) has not been disclosed to the Food and Drugs Board to enable the FDB to ascertain its suitability for the manufacturing of herbal medicine in accordance with section 16(1)(b) of the FDB Law, which states that ' A person shall not manufacture for sale a drug or chemical substance unless the conditions under which the manufacture is to be carried on are in the opinion of the Board suitable to ensure that the articles will be safe for use'.

On 25th July 2011, the MD of Frank Paul Ventures misled the police and FDB officers to Obiri Herbal Centre as his herbal manufacturing premises. However the MD of Obiri Herbal Centre, Nana Obiri told the FDB in the presence of the Police that he does not manufacture herbal medicines for Frank Paul Ventures.

An informant, on the 25th July 2011, told the FDB that they were aware Frank Paul Ventures (Yafo Yafo) manufactures and stores his products in a house at Mamprobi. However the MD of Frank Paul Ventures refused to go with the police to inspect the place when requested to do so.

The police eventually obtained a search warrant and on the 28th July 2011, the MD of Frank Paul Ventures was called on for inspection at the facility but again, he refused to comply.

On the 29th July 2011 the Police and the FDB, acting on the Search Warrant, inspected the premises where they found the above listed herbal Medicines stored under unacceptable conditions.

Consumption of medicines manufactured and stored under such unhygienic conditions can be harmful to health.

Anybody who patronizes these herbal medicines from Frank Paul Ventures, does so at his/her own risk since they have not been registered by the Food and Drugs Board and as such the quality, safety and efficacy, including therapeutic claims cannot be guaranteed.

It must be however noted that the Food and Drugs Law is no respecter of persons.

The Food and Drug Board takes this opportunity to assure the general public that it would continue to do all within its powers to execute its mandate to protect public health and safety at all times.

Meanwhile the case is being investigated by the police.

Information from the general public on persons suspected to be in any practice with the potential of endangering public health and safety with respect to FDB's mandate is most welcomed through any of the following contact numbers; 0244337235, 0262689296, 0246809509 or 0208204968.

Dr. Stephen K. Opuni
Chief Executive Officer