GIBA denies signing document on directive on advertisement of alcoholic beverages

Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) has denied a media publication that it was among other stakeholders who had supported the directive on the advertisement of alcoholic beverages and it signed a communiqué to pledge their unflinching support to the directive.

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) effective 1st January 2018, banned both advertisement and Live Presenter Mention (LPM) of alcoholic beverages in the media before 8-pm.

This directive, the FDA says is to protect children and prevent them from being lured into alcoholism at their young age.

In a publication by www.ghanaweb.com on 12 January 2018, titled; “FDA to descend heavily on offenders flouting its directive”, it was reported that Mr. James Lartey, the Head of Communications and Public Education of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) had told the Ghana News Agency that the Ghana Independence Broadcasters Association was among other stakeholders who had supported the directive on the advertisement of alcoholic beverages.

In a release signed by the Executive Secretary of GIBA, Gloria Hiadzi, it said no meeting has taken place to specifically discuss restrictions on alcohol advertisement and that no communiqué had been received by the National Secretariat after the said meeting which took place on 31 October 2017.

The release is, therefore, challenging the FDA to produce any documents with the signature(s) of any person(s) from the GIBA.

“GIBA therefore takes exception to the assertion by the Head of Communications and Public Education of the FDA that GIBA has signed a communiqué and hereby challenge the FDA to produce any document(s) with signatures of the person(s) from GIBA, who signed the communiqué to mean a pledge in support to the directive,” it added.

Read the full statement

The attention of the Executive Council of the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) has been drawn to a publication by www.ghanaweb.com on 12 January 2018, titled; “FDA to descend heavily on offenders flouting its directive”. In the said publication, it was reported that Mr. James Lartey, the Head of Communications and Public Education of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) had told the Ghana News Agency that the Ghana Independence Broadcasters Association was among other stakeholders who had supported the directive on the advertisement of alcoholic beverages and that “all the stakeholders signed a communique to pledge their unflinching support to the directive”.

The Executive Council of GIBA would like to categorically state that, no meeting has taken place to specifically discuss restrictions on alcohol advertisement and that no communiqué had been received by the National Secretariat after the said meeting which took place on 31 October 2017.

In spite of several follow-up calls made to the FDA, GIBA has still not received the said communiqué.

GIBA therefore takes exception to the assertion by the Head of Communications and Public Education of the FDA that GIBA has signed a communiqué and hereby challenge the FDA to produce any document(s) with signatures of the person(s) from GIBA, who signed the communiqué to mean a pledge in support to the directive.

Further to these developments, GIBA has in a letter requested for an urgent meeting with the Food and Drugs Authority to discuss issues pertaining to the directive. We believe the FDA will consider the developing issues and take the necessary steps in the interest of our mutual co-existence.

Gloria Hiadzi

Executive Secretary

Tel :     +233-030-2251910

Mob:  +233-244-655745

+233-208-301151

Alt Email: ghiadzi@yahoo.co.uk

Website:  www.gibagh.org

Source: otecfmghana.com/Ebenezer Amankwah