Asokwa Circuit Court: Ghana Amuzu Bitters Trademark Forgery Conviction

• Jeanice Mensah, a 53-year-old trader, was fined GH¢12,000 by the Asokwa Circuit Court Two for selling counterfeit Amuzu Bitters.
• She pleaded guilty to charges of dealing in counterfeit regulated products and forging trademarks, including Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) tax stamps.
• Police seized 45 cartons, each containing 12 bottles of the counterfeit product, from her shop in Ashtown, Kumasi, following an investigation by Amuzu Bitters Company.
• Both the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Food and Drugs Authority confirmed the products and their labels were counterfeit.
• In default of payment, Mensah faces two months’ imprisonment with hard labour, as her sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

This conviction, handed down by the Asokwa Circuit Court, underscores Ghana’s commitment to actively enforcing its intellectual property infringement laws and combating the trade of counterfeit regulated products.

A trader in Kumasi, Jeanice Mensah, 53, has been handed a significant fine by the Asokwa Circuit Court Two for her involvement in the sale of counterfeit Amuzu Bitters and the use of forged trademarks. The court, presided over by Madam Vida Achiaa Yeboah, ordered Mensah to pay a total of GH¢12,000, which represents 1,000 penalty units. This penalty was imposed following her guilty plea to charges of dealing in counterfeit regulated products and forging trademarks.

Should Mensah fail to pay the fine, she faces a two-month imprisonment term with hard labour. The sentencing on September 8, 2026, marks a decisive step in addressing intellectual property infringement within Ghana's commercial landscape, particularly concerning counterfeit regulated products Ghana.

The investigation into Mensah’s activities began several months prior to her arrest, after the management of Amuzu Bitters Company received intelligence that she was distributing a spurious version of their product. Mr. Prince Nkansah, the Operations Manager for Amuzu Bitters Company, who resides in Santasi, Kumasi, along with another company staff member, visited Mensah's shop in Ashtown on February 4, 2026, at approximately 2:20 PM. There, they discovered multiple boxes containing products suspected to be counterfeit.

The matter was subsequently reported to the Manhyia Police Station, leading to Mensah's apprehension. During the arrest, police confiscated 45 cartons from Mensah’s possession, each containing 12 bottles of the counterfeit Amuzu Bitters, which also bore forged Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) tax stamps and trademark labels. Samples of both the genuine and suspected counterfeit products were submitted to the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Food and Drugs Authority for authentication, with both institutions confirming the illicit nature of the tax stamps and trademark labels.

During her caution statement, Mensah, a resident of Asawasi in Kumasi, admitted ownership of the seized products. She informed investigators that an unidentified man had supplied the items to her, stating she could recognize him if she saw him again, but was unable to provide information leading to his arrest. Following the comprehensive investigation, Mensah was formally charged and brought before the Asokwa Circuit Court Two.

She pleaded guilty to both counts: dealing in counterfeit regulated products and forging trademarks. For the offense of dealing in counterfeit regulated products, she was fined 1,000 penalty units, with a default sentence of two weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour. An additional 1,000 penalty units were imposed for forging trademarks, carrying a default of two months’ imprisonment with hard labour. However, the court mandated that these sentences run concurrently, meaning the total default imprisonment would be two months.

This conviction, handed down by the Asokwa Circuit Court, underscores Ghana’s commitment to actively enforcing its intellectual property infringement laws and combating the trade of counterfeit regulated products. The case of Jeanice Mensah, involving the sale of counterfeit Amuzu Bitters and the use of forged GRA tax stamps, serves as a clear signal to traders and businesses about the severe legal consequences of dealing in illicit goods. The meticulous investigation, which included authentication by both the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Food and Drugs Authority, highlights the robust mechanisms in place to identify and prosecute such offenses.

This outcome reinforces the importance of vigilant brand protection for companies and emphasizes the critical need for supply chain due diligence to prevent the proliferation of counterfeit products in the market. The Ghana Amuzu Bitters trademark forgery conviction demonstrates that authorities are taking decisive action against those who undermine legitimate commerce and endanger public trust through fraudulent practices, sending a strong message against Asokwa Circuit Court trademark forgery.

This case underscores the active enforcement of trademark and anti-counterfeiting laws in Ghana, signaling to businesses the importance of vigilant brand protection and robust supply chain due diligence to avoid criminal liability for dealing in illicit goods. Compliance officers should review their procurement processes to mitigate risks associated with counterfeit products and forged regulatory stamps.

Source: Original reporting via GNA