The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has withdrawn the marketing authorisation of Omama Herbal Mixture after laboratory tests confirmed that the product was adulterated with prescription-only medicines.
In a statement signed by the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Manso Opuni, the FDA explained that the action followed a market surveillance exercise conducted in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service.
According to the Authority, tests showed that the product contained Diazepam, Metronidazole, Paracetamol, and Niacinamide — all allopathic drugs that are not permitted in any registered herbal medicine.
The FDA indicated that Omama Herbal Mixture had been registered only as a herbal remedy for malaria and loss of appetite. The inclusion of these pharmaceutical substances, it noted, posed serious health risks to consumers.
“These medicines can be harmful if taken without a doctor’s prescription or the guidance of a qualified health professional,” the statement warned.
Consequently, the FDA has urged the public to immediately stop buying or using the product. It added that it is working with Omama Herbal Group Limited to recall all affected batches from the market for safe disposal.
The Authority further disclosed that regulatory and criminal actions have been initiated against those responsible for the adulteration, reaffirming its commitment to protecting public health.
“The FDA will not relent in its efforts to ensure the safety of the public,” the statement emphasized.
The public has also been encouraged to report anyone—including individuals, pharmacies, or over-the-counter medicine sellers—still offering Omama Herbal Mixture for sale to the nearest FDA office.
