Accra, Ghana — The Research and Investigative Desk of Tobinco Media Group (TMG) has formally filed a Right to Information (RTI) request to Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), seeking detailed data on unregistered consumer products and related enforcement actions.
The request, filed on behalf of TMG’s media platforms including Bullet TV, Atinka TV, Atinka FM, and affiliated outlets, invokes Article 21(1)(f) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 18 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989).
Scope of the Request
Addressed to the FDA’s Information Officer, the request seeks comprehensive records covering a six-year period from 2020 to 2025 in three major public health categories:
-Unregistered Cosmetics: A full list of cosmetic products identified or flagged by the FDA.
-Unregistered Herbal Medicines: Data on all traditional or herbal medicines found to be non-compliant.
-Unregistered Food and Beverages: Records of flagged alcoholic, non-alcoholic, and food products circulating without approval.
Financial Accountability Under Scrutiny
Beyond identifying non-compliant products, the TMG Investigative Desk is also requesting financial records related to regulatory enforcement. These include details of:
-Fines imposed on manufacturers or distributors
-Administrative fees for product regularization
-Any other payments or monetary penalties collected by the FDA in connection with unregistered products
The financial component of the request aims to shed light on how enforcement actions are monetized and managed.
Why the Request Matters
Speaking on the development, Maxwell Mensah, Lead of TMG’s Research and Investigative Desk, said the initiative goes beyond compiling product lists.
“This isn’t just about lists. It’s about accountability, public safety, and understanding the full scope of regulatory oversight. Ghanaians have a right to know what products are circulating without approval, what actions are being taken, and how the financial aspects of enforcement are handled,” he said.
According to him, the data will help assess the effectiveness of consumer protection systems and regulatory compliance across key sectors.
Next Steps
Under the Right to Information Act, the FDA is required to respond within a statutory timeframe. TMG says it will closely monitor the process and subject the released information to detailed analysis to evaluate market compliance, enforcement effectiveness, and financial transparency.
The Investigative Desk has assured the public that findings from the data will be published once the FDA responds.
This story will be updated as developments unfold.
