A Sunyani-based journalist, Lawrence Yeboah Gyan is raising serious concerns about the alarming impact of a suspected tobacco-based powder known locally as “ɛkiki me” on many people in Sunyani and across the Bono and Bono East regions.
Though it is not officially approved or registered by the Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), reports suggest that the substance is increasingly being misused by people of all ages.
“Ɛkiki me” is a fine powder resembling ground tobacco, typically packaged in small green plastic containers. Users place a small amount of powder under their tongue, allowing it to dissolve and be absorbed — a method like snuff or dipping tobacco used in various cultures.
Mr. Yeboah Gyan, who works with Sunyani-based Sun City Radio, says the unregulated nature of “Ɛkiki me” poses significant health risks, saying: “Without proper quality control or safety assessments, users may be exposed to harmful additives and contaminants.”
Regulatory complications
In a Statement, the renowned journalist stated that under Ghana’s Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is responsible for regulating tobacco and related substances.
“Yet, “Ɛkiki me” has not been registered or approved by the FDA, meaning it falls outside the agency’s regulatory scope. This complicates efforts to monitor its distribution and usage.”
Meanwhile, Madam Akua Amponsaa Owusu, the Regional Head of the FDA in Bono, has confirmed that the product is not licensed and warned that consumers use it at their own risk.
She said in an interview that although the manufacturer, based in Techiman in the Bono East Region, has applied for licensing, the law does not permit production or distribution until all regulatory requirements are met.
“Before any product is certified, samples must be submitted for laboratory testing to determine their composition and potential therapeutic value.”
Madam Amponsaa Owusu stated that the FDA has already confiscated several batches of the product, although some traders continue to sell it illegally, viewing it as a profitable venture.
Also, the manufacturer has also been fined an undisclosed amount for violating FDA regulations.
Vox pop interviews conducted in Sunyani reveal mixed reactions among users. Some claim the substance energizes them after a hard day’s work and enhances their overall well-being. Others say it causes euphoria, while long-term users report side effects such as insomnia and sexual weakness.
Alarmingly, nearly half of mobile money vendors and merchants in Sunyani reportedly sell “Ɛkiki me,” often in public restrooms and other informal locations. The substance’s discreet mode of use is such that if someone doesn’t respond to a morning greeting, “Ɛkiki me” might be dissolving under their tongue.
The emergence of this substance in the Bono and Bono East regions highlights an urgent need for public education, stricter regulation, and community intervention. Health authorities, schools, and local leaders must collaborate to raise awareness and mitigate the potential public health impact.
