The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in Eastern Region has launched a major crackdown on producers of local beverages like Sobolo, Asana, Lamugin, and fruit juices, among others for weddings, funerals and events, demanding they suspend operations until their products receive official approval.
The move has sparked concern and “chaos” among producers, many of whom rely on these drinks for income, particularly for weddings, funerals, and other events.
Starr News has learned that some local producers are being instructed to pay administrative charges of GHS 10,000 as part of the regulatory process.
These directives are being issued in letters signed by Anita Owusu-Kuffour, the Eastern Regional Director of the FDA.
A stern warning by FDA dated November 17, 2025 to one of such local bar producers in Koforidua after its products were encountered at a funeral, cited the company of manufacturing products without authorisation.
The FDA stated that this contravenes Section 97 (1) of the Public Health Act 2012, Act 851, which mandates that “A person shall not manufacture, import, export, distribute, sell or supply food or expose food for sale unless the Authority has registered the food.”
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The authority warned that such unregistered production “amounts to exposing the health and safety of the public to unwarranted risks.”
The company has been directed to immediately: Suspend all production activities, Pay an administrative charge of Ten Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 10,000.00) to the FDA, Eastern Regional Office, by November 24, 2025, as per the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Instrument, LI 2386.
The letter concluded with a warning that the Authority would not hesitate to take further regulatory action if the directives were not complied with, urging the matter to be treated as urgent.
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The production of these local drinks has become a vital source of employment for many young people in the region, operating as both full-time and part-time ventures.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
