The Techiman Divisional Police Command in the Bono East Region has arrested a couple, Daniel Opoku Ababio and his wife Dorothy Opoku, for allegedly manufacturing and selling counterfeit hand sanitizers.
The couple were apprehended following a tip-off at the Kumasi-Techiman lorry station on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. They are scheduled to appear before the Techiman Circuit Court on Friday, March 27, 2020.
DSP Kofi Sarkodie, the Techiman Police Crime Officer, confirmed that investigations are ongoing and stated that the couple would either be arraigned in court or granted bail with a reliable surety.
The incident highlights concerns over product quality amidst the surge in demand for sanitizers driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and health expert recommendations.
While the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has authorized accredited local producers, such as Kasapreko Company Limited (which shifted from alcoholic beverages to sanitizer production), to meet the demand, there are still worries that many locally produced sanitizers may not meet the necessary health standards.
