Volta FDA grabs fake doctor at Peki

The Volta Regional Directorate of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has nabbed a 77-year-old man for posing as a medical doctor at Peki in the South Dayi District of the Volta Region.

Harrison Amoatwor was picked up by the FDA officials in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Volta Regional Police Command on November 8, 2021 at Peki.

Mr Gordon Akurugu, the Volta Regional Director of the FDA, at a press conference, said the Directorate received information about the activities of the suspect and alerted the Drug Enforcement Unit.

He said the suspect is currently in police custody pending further investigations and prosecution.

The activities of the suspect contravened the provisions of the sub-sections 111, 112 and 113 of the Public Health Act 2012, as he was not licensed to operate a health facility or produce drugs, Mr Akurugu said.

Drugs retrieved included Rapha capsules, Rapha pills, ointment and powder, Rapha BP/Asthma, Hepatitis and diabetes killer.

The rest are birth record, BP monitor, black cobra tabs, unlabeled ointment, and unlabeled powder.

The Director said a fake document retrieved from the suspect detailing his professional profile during the arrest indicated that he was born on July 11, 1944 at Dambai in the Oti Region and currently the Director of Jehovah Rapha Medical Centre at Koforidua in the Eastern Region.

According to the document, the suspect attended Dambai Teacher Training College, had his medical education at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and then proceeded to Spain for further studies in medicine and pharmacology and had his National Service at La Poly Clinic and was employed after the service.

The suspect was first posted to Assin Fosu Government Hospital in the Central Region and later transferred to Takoradi and Koforidua, and eventually retired at the Oda Government Hospital.

During interrogation, he confessed that the document was fake and that he did not have such professional medical training, Mr Akurugu said.

He said the FDA was doing its best to ensure public health and safety and called on the citizens to support the Authority.

He urged the public to be cautious of whom they bought medication or sought treatment from.

He commended the Regional Police Command for its support and said the FDA would continue to collaborate with it to deal with such quacks in the system.

GNA