“We came here in June to work, but there is no work. They are treating us badly, and there is no food for us to eat. We want to return to Ghana, but we were asked to pay $1,920. Our passports have also been seized.”
— Two young Ghanaians, aged 22 and 23, are appealing to the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for urgent assistance after travelling to Jordan in search of work. They allege they have been subjected to inhumane treatment and are being prevented from returning home.
Finally, Someone is Looking out For Us!
Most of us scrolled past the announcement back in February. The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) put out a statement saying certain drinks had to leave our shelves, quietly, without drama. No big press conference. No product names called out loudly. Just a directive, a deadline, and a warning.
The deadline was March 31, 2026. Some people thought it would blow over. Some traders apparently did too.
It didn't blow over.
In late April, the FDA's Market Surveillance Team, backed by the Ghana Police Service, moved through communities, town by town, they went in and came out with products. Over 2,100 of them, including Bullet Vodka Drink, Vody Vodka Mixed Drink, Cody's Vodka Energy Drink, Jojo Carbonated Vodka Mix, and Bel Ice Vodka Energy Mix Drink, to mention a few.
So, what exactly is the problem?
These beverages combine alcohol, a depressant, with stimulants like caffeine, inositol, kola nut, glucuronolactone, ginseng and guarana, to mention a few. The concern is that combining alcohol with stimulants can mask signs of intoxication, leading consumers to drink more than they should. You feel less drunk than you are. And then the real damage happens
Countries moved on this years ago. Ghana is catching up, and seriously so.
Now here is the real question: have you seen any of these products still sitting on shelves near you? More importantly, are you actively checking the ingredient list on your favourite alcoholic beverage? Because some of these ingredients do not announce themselves loudly on the label.
Some of these brands will disappear for a while, then come back reformulated, or possibly relaunch under an entirely new brand. We do not know. But hopefully without the stimulants.
For now, read the label. Then decide.
@OsaeBledu@konkrumah It’s about responsibility, your right to mine comes with responsibility and laws governing that.
Should one allow anyone to do something on their concession (as a mining operation) it must be approved by the government and the ministers involved in such.
Several NDC persons whose submission of no case had been rejected by the courts and had a case to answer, have been left off the hook by the NDC prosecutors and the courts. Instead, Wontumi has been jailed not for illegal mining but that someone who he argues he gave his company’s former mine to, for purposes of reclamation was found doing mining on it. And yet the actual illegal miner has been set loose rather. This is not law or justice. It is a weaponising of the justice delivery system. This is why the NPP considers Wontumi a political prisoner. The justice system has been turned upside down.
My Lord, his businesses have employed thousands of Ghanaians, my ladyship he is taking care of thousands of orphans, my ladyship the collapse or lack of proper management will lead to collapse of thousands of Ghanaians
I therefore plead with the court to give him the barest minimum sentence ~ Lawyer of wontumi