Mr Philip Anokye, the Chief Executive Officer of Achievers Pharmacy, a fast rising Obuasi based pharmaceutical shop, has accused the Pharmacy Council of Ghana for unlawfully closing down his outfit.
The shop, which has been in operation since 2018, has been serving the people of Obuasi and its environs. The shop, with a staff strength of more than twenty (20), provides both pharmaceutical and laboratory services
Narrating his ordeal, the young entrepreneur said he has fulfilled all the laid down provisions of the Pharmacy Council to renew his license and for that matter, could not fathom why the Council has still closed down his shop.
According to him, members of the Council periodically renew their licenses which give him the mandate to operate.
But in spite of the compliance of the requirements in the face of initial challenges, his shop has been closed down, compelling him to send all workers home, in this difficult economic situation.
According to the Ghana Pharmaceutical Council, Licenses issued to pharmacies are valid for one calendar year only and must be renewed every year, in accordance with the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act.
Failure to renew a pharmacy license or operating with a license past its expiry date constitutes an offense and will result in sanctions.
Mr. Anokye said the Ashanti Regional office certified the company’s registration and moved to renew the license for the year 2023, but the Pharmacist, who had been facilitating the processes for them previously had travelled outside the country, making the renewal process difficult.
He disclosed that they later found another Pharmacist who helped them conclude the registration process at the regional office of the Pharmaceutical council, which was duly approved by the Council, headed by Director Pharm. Benjamin Botwe.
He added that he was later prompted to pay an amount of GHc3,500 as penalty for late registration, which he accepted, but asked for time to pay, which proposal was approved and sanctioned by the director after signing an undertaking to that effect.
Unfortunately, the Regional Pharmaceutical Council team, led by one Mr Amoh, on Tuesday May 2, 2023 in the company of some police personnel came to close down the shop, but upon a petition to the Obuasi Municipal Police commander, Chief Supt Elizabeth Viney, the matter was amicably settled, only for a team purported to come from the National Pharmaceutical Council in Accra, come to close it down again.
He said, he again petitioned the Municipal Police Commander who scheduled a meeting between himself and the team from Accra.
After writing down their statement, the Police Commander concluded that she could not proceed with the team to close down the Pharmaceutical shop because she could not find any basis for that in their statement.
The Police Commander, as explained by Mr. Anokye recommended amicable settlement, which was agreed by both parties, but the team went ahead to close down the shop.
He said he proceeded to the Regional office of the Council to plead for clemency, but it fell on deaf ears while the Regional Director, Benjamin Botwe, sacked them from his office.
Philip Anokye said upon consultation with the Board of Directors of Achievers Pharmacy, they have decided to write to the Pharmaceutical Council through their Lawyers to explain to them the basis for closing down the shop and to also open it.
He indicated that, they have paid what is to be paid to the Council, yet their shop has been closed down, affecting the livelihood of more than twenty of their staff.
He bemoaned the frustration of private sector investment in the country, while initiative of private individuals to do legitimate business in Ghana are being killed without restraint.
