Karnataka Tribal Community Members Face Legal Trouble in Ghana Over Herbal Business
A routine overseas business venture has taken a dramatic turn for twenty-six members of Karnataka's Hakki-Pikki tribal community, who now find themselves in police custody in Ghana. The group, which includes twelve women from Shivamogga and Davanagere districts, was arrested on Wednesday in Tumu, the capital of the Sissala East Municipal Assembly in Ghana's Upper West Region.
Arrest Details and Charges
The arrests came after local residents alerted the Sisaala East Municipal Police Command about foreigners selling herbal products in the area. According to R Puneeth Kumar, President of the Karnataka Hakki-Pikki Budakattu Sanghatane, the tribals were taken into custody on charges of peddling unregistered herbal products, which constitutes a serious violation of Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) regulations in Ghana.
"All of them were arrested on Wednesday on charges of peddling unregistered herbal products, which is a serious violation of FDA rules in Ghana," Puneeth confirmed. "All of them are in the custody of the local police."
Police Operation and Investigation
The police operation unfolded in two phases. Initially, authorities arrested four tribal members, and based on information obtained from them, conducted coordinated searches with Ghana's FDA officials. This led to the subsequent arrest of twenty-two additional Indian nationals, all hailing from Karnataka.
During the operation, police seized quantities of herbal products suspected to have been smuggled into the country and sold on the streets. Preliminary investigations have revealed that:
- Twenty-one of those arrested possessed valid work permits
- Five individuals did not have proper documentation
- The group included twelve women and fourteen men
- Some members were traveling as couples
Community Response and Legal Complications
One of the detainees, identified as Sonia, reportedly told police that the group had submitted relevant documents to municipal immigration officials upon arrival in Tumu and received clearance for business activities. She claimed they were unaware that their activities constituted illegal trade.
However, local FDA officials have maintained that the seized herbal products were not registered and violated Section 118 of Ghana's Public Health Act, 2012, which could lead to criminal charges.
Puneeth explained the community's perspective: "Every year, several of our community members visit African countries to sell herbal products which are natural, and there is no mandatory clause to register the products. However, Ghana has different rules, and our tribals did not know about this."
Broader Context and Diplomatic Efforts
This incident follows the recent arrest of a separate group in Chad for alleged visa violations, highlighting the challenges faced by Indian tribal communities conducting business in African nations. Puneeth revealed that nearly 250 members of the Hakki-Pikki community are currently in different parts of Ghana.
The community leader has taken immediate action, alerting both the Indian Embassy officials in Accra and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). "The officials assured us that they will look into the issue and connect with the Ghana officials," he stated.
The arrested individuals had been touring various Ghanaian regions, including Oti, Bono, and Upper East, to market their traditional herbal products before their detention in Tumu.
