Court fines trader GH¢12,000 for selling fake Amuzu Bitters 

The Asokwa Circuit Court Two has fined a trader GH¢12,000.00 for dealing in counterfeit Amuzu Bitters and forging trademarks.

The trader, Jeanice Mensah, 53, was sentenced to a fine of 1,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢12,000. In default, she will serve two months’ imprisonment in hard labour.

Mensah pleaded guilty to charges of dealing in counterfeit regulated products and forging trademarks.

The court, presided over by Madam Vida Achiaa Yeboah, convicted her on her own plea and sentenced her accordingly.

She was fined 1,000 penalty units for dealing in counterfeit regulated products or, in default, serve two weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour. She was also fined 1,000 penalty units for forging trademarks or, in default, serve two months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

However, the court ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

Presenting the facts, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Ofori said the complainant, Mr Prince Nkansah, Operations Manager of Amuzu Bitters Company, resided at Santasi in Kumasi, while Mensah was a trader living at Asawasi in Kumasi.

The prosecution noted that management of Amuzu Bitters Company received information several months ago that Mensah was selling a counterfeit version of its product and subsequently conducted its own investigations.

On February 4, 2026, at about 1420 hours, the complainant and another company staff member visited Mensah’s shop at Ashtown and found boxes of products suspected to be counterfeit.

The matter was reported to the Manhyia Police Station, leading to Mensah’s arrest.

Police retrieved 45 cartons, each containing 12 bottles of counterfeit Amuzu Bitters bearing forged Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) tax stamps and trademark labels from Mensah’s possession.

During investigations, police sent samples of both genuine and suspected counterfeit Amuzu Bitters to the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Food and Drugs Authority for authentication.

Reports received from the two institutions confirmed that the tax stamps and trademark labels on the products were counterfeit.

In her caution statement, Mensah admitted ownership of the products and told investigators that they had been supplied to her by a man she could identify if she saw him again. However, she was unable to provide information that could lead to his arrest.

Following investigations, she was charged and arraigned.

GNA