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Large consignment of various assorted medicines worth more than $21,000 (Twenty One Thousand US Dollars) according to Ministry of Trade Valuation, donated to Breast Care International (BCI) Ghana, an NGO, has been taken custody by the Customs Officials at the Aviance Cargo at Kotoka International Air port (KIA), due to their shot shelf life a subsequent expiry at the Air port, after paying more than Gh¢4,000.00 (Four Thousand Ghana Cedis)as levies and other duties to the Customs.

While the medicines were not expired upon arrival, they could not be cleared quickly due to bureaucratic challenges the NGO encountered during the clearing process.

The donation of essential medicines with Airway Bill Numbers LAX6AB7849, 2CXV542 and 2CXV545, arrived in Accra in separate consignment between September 2014 and February 2015 but could not be cleared until their expiry due to delay in securing the necessary approval for the clearance process from such as the Department Of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (GCSP).

The medicines including various mental health, heart diseases, breast, prostate, and cervical cancer among others is t o serve needy patients in the country free of charge, are gathering dust at the Customs Ware House at Aviance Cargo at the KIA.

Direct Relief, a not for profit organization base in Santa Barbara, California, USA is requesting for documentations regarding the seized medicines, from the Customs, Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) and the action taken on them regarding their destruction and disposal.

It also request detail list of product, quantities, lots number and date on the products which were destroyed in other to fulfill the donor’s request and help improve consideration for future donations to Ghana.