Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan
The Centre of Awareness (COA) Research & Manufacturing Company Limited has described the destruction of its COA FS product in April this year by the Food & Drug Authority (FDA) as a “blessing”.
According to the company, the intervention which resulted in the loss of GH¢1.68 million has resulted in the adoption of contamination prevention measures as well as the establishment of a new infrastructure.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COA, Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan, gave the commendation at the unveiling of its new product, COA Mixture, in Accra.
On September 10, 2020, the FDA granted market authorisation to the company to market COA FS as COA Mixture since the product was no longer registered as a food supplement but as aherbal medicine for general well-being.
He highlighted measures which were requisite for granting market authorisation by the FDA to include formation of a new company, installation of security structures to reduce human contact with the product, construction of new structures, employment of staff to improve standards and training of staff by the FDA on good manufacturing practices (GMP).
“We want to assure the general public and all stakeholders that our company will always respect and abide by FDA’s directives and will never indulge in anything that will mar our relationship or tarnish the hard won reputation of the FDA,” he said.
He also expressed his appreciation to the National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, for the roe he played in the restructuring of the company
The Deputy Minister of Health, Gifty Tina Mensah, assured the company of government’s commitment to nurture local businesses to be able to compete globally, adding, “This is just the beginning. Do not rest on your oars and strive for excellence.”
She also encouraged the deliberate implementation of GMP and agricultural practices at the point of cultivating medicinal plants which could help in the improving quality of products.
The National Organiser of Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association (GHAFRAM), Peter Kwabena Hagan, appealed to the government to institute a traditional medicine fund to support the development and research of traditional medicine in the country.
By Issah Mohammed