Ghana’s Northern Regional capital, Tamale, has become a hub for fake tramadol abuse.
A BBC Eye investigation uncovered how unlicensed, highly addictive opioids from India are fueling a growing drug crisis in Ghana.
In cities like Tamale, the crisis has reached alarming levels.
Community leader Alhassan Maham has organized a volunteer task force of about 100 locals to combat the spread of these drugs.
“The drugs consume the sanity of those who abuse them,” Maham said, likening their effect to a fire fed by kerosene. Addicts in Tamale openly admit how these pills have devastated their lives.
One user confessed, “The drugs have wasted our lives,” highlighting the grim reality faced by many.
The BBC’s investigation followed Maham’s task force during a raid in Tamale’s impoverished neighborhoods. Acting on a tip-off, they apprehended a dealer carrying green pills labeled “Tafrodol”, a product traced back to Aveo Pharmaceuticals.
The distinctive Aveo logo was clearly visible on the packaging, confirming the source.
The report reveals that Aveo Pharmaceuticals, based in Mumbai, is illegally exporting harmful opioids to West Africa, with Ghana among the hardest-hit countries.
The drugs, sold under various brand names, combine tapentadol, a potent opioid, with carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant banned in Europe due to its high potential for addiction.
This dangerous combination is not licensed for use anywhere in the world, yet it has flooded Ghanaian streets, putting countless young lives at risk.
Nash Idi, a leading media figure in the Northern Region, was saddened by the findings of the investigation.
To him, the influx of these drugs highlights the urgent need for tighter border control—not just during elections, but at all times.
He said, “It is sad that Tamale has been captured in this BBC undercover documentary on the global production, sale, and consumption of tramadol and other hard drugs.
“The state shouldn’t only commit to tight land border patrols during elections. We must prioritize protecting and controlling what enters or leaves our territories throughout the year as a sovereign country.
“This documentary should serve as a wake-up call to leadership in the region—chiefs, politicians, religious leaders, and youth groups.
“Our city’s proximity to Ghana’s porous land borders is a major contributing factor to this drug trafficking issue.”
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