The Head of Industry Support Services Department of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Mr Kofi Essel has challenged celebrities who are threatening to defy their orders to go ahead and do so and face the consequences.

According to Mr Essel in an interview with Mzgee on 3FMs Showbuzz, the fact that their Nigerian counterparts have been allowed to advertise alcoholic products does not necessarily mean that same will be allowed in Ghana.

“The fact that Nigerian celebrities are allowed to advertise alcoholic beverages doesn’t necessarily translate to the situation in Ghana. We have made concrete observation with the influence of celebrities on minors and we’ve come up with regulations that will safeguard our situation,” he said.

Wendy Shay, Shatta Wale, Afia Schwarzenegger and some other celebrities went berserk over the ban on Ghanaian celebrities advertising alcoholic beverages when their Nigerian counterparts were allowed to do so.

Mr Essel however reiterates that laws are different in Nigeria and can’t be applied in Ghana.

“There’s a law in Ghana which is the public health act of 2012, Act 251 and that act says that for the FDA to do its work, FDA have to draw guidelines and these guidelines have been developed. These guidelines says that you can not do this, you go ahead and try it. Let anyone go ahead and try it and we’ll see whether there are laws in Ghana or not,” he added.