The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) at the weekend destroyed large quantities of unwholesome goods comprising food items and drugs in the Upper East Region.

The goods, which were seized by the post market surveillance team of the FDA from Garu, Navrongo, Fumbisi, Pusiga and Bawku, were burnt at Sirigu near Bolgatanga.

Speaking to journalists, the Regional officer of the FDA, Mr Eugene Addo said his outfit, as part of its mandate, would continue to undertake post market surveillances to check and seize unwholesome goods, and warned traders to always check their products before buying them from their dealers.

He also entreated consumers to play a watchdog role by checking whether the products they buy had expired and to report such traders to the office of the FDA for the necessary action.

According to the Regional Officer, offenders would be prosecuted, in addition to other punitive measures, depending on the level of the crime.

He said the FDA had been embarking on sensitization programmes on the need for traders to stop dealing in unwholesome goods including seeking the services of the media to do that.

Mr Addo indicated that it had been established that most of the unwholesome products entered the region through unapproved routes from neighbouring countries with many of them labelled in foreign languages, which violates the laws of the country.

“FDA, which is mandated to execute its core duties, will not sit down and allow the health of Ghanaians to be toyed with. It calls for collective responsibilities from all stakeholders including particularly the media to help the FDA realize its dream”, he stressed.