Program Manager for Ghana’s Expanded Program on Immunisation (EPI), Kwame Amponsa-Akyianu, has assured Ghanaians that not a single vile of its stock of COVID-19 vaccines is fake.
His comments come after an Interpol bust of fake COVID-19 production syndicates in South Africa and China.
Kwame Amponsa-Akyianu stated, “I have heard news of the production and sale of fake vaccines but the vaccines procured by Ghana are safe. Our vaccines are from UNICEF which they get directly from the manufacturer. We have nothing to fear”, he stated.
In an interview with Samuel Eshun, host of the Happy Morning Show aired on e.TV Ghana and Happy 98.9 FM, the EPI Program Manager however assured authorities will be extra vigilant and watch out for such syndicates.
“The Food and Drugs Authority will ensure such groups do not infiltrate the country”, he declared.
400 vials, equivalent to about 2,400 doses, containing fake COVID-19 vaccines were found at a warehouse in Germiston outside Johannesburg in South Africa according to Interpol.
A large quantity of fake masks were also found and police arrested three Chinese citizens and a Zambian national.
In China, police successfully identified a network selling counterfeit COVID-19 vaccines, seized more than 3,000 fake vaccines and arrested some 80 suspects.
Background
Interpol earlier this year issued an “Orange Notice” warning authorities worldwide to prepare for organised crime networks targeting COVID-19 vaccines, both physically and online.
“Whilst we welcome this result, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine-related crime,” said Interpol Secretary-General Juergen Stock.
Interpol said it was also receiving additional reports of fake vaccine distribution at nursing homes.
“No approved vaccines are currently available for sale online. Any vaccine being advertised on websites or the dark web will not be legitimate, will not have been tested, and may be dangerous,” the statement said.
“Anyone who buys these drugs is putting themselves at risk and giving their money to organised criminals.”
By: Joel Sanco
