Consumers: Protect yourselves from counterfeits, nobody else will
Trade, which literally means the buying and selling of goods and services is a free operation besides the actual use of monetary exchange to do the actual purchasing, but who is in charge of stopping fake commodities in the market?.
The issue of fake commodities on the market is an issue that has been going on for such a good time now that some of the consumers local have accepted it an ill fate – bound to happen in the world’s youngest country since it is still “very” young and only developing. The only basic reason for counterfeits to flock the market is through non-expertise and corruption.
The concept of counterfeit materials in the market especially those that are imported into the country is no longer news to some citizens however, they are harmful to one’s health, both the goods and services.
With the complications, fluctuations, uncertainties and a lot of fake products on the market, I bet some people would say that the barter trade of the olden days was better. After all; old is gold!
If a patient purchases counterfeit drugs from a renowned pharmacy only for them to pass away later, it will quickly be dubbed “their” time without questioning from whom these fake drugs came; if they actually get to realize that they are fake.
But! For those who have read the R-ARCSS, you will know that there is a law and a body that is meant to protect the public by prosecuting cases of corruption as clearly stated in Chapter 4.4.1.1 as below,
“In order to fight corruption, the RTGoNU shall: review within five (5) months of the Transition, the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 with the aim of enabling the Commission to effectively perform its functions of protecting public property, investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption, combating administrative malpractices in public institutions, and promoting ethical standards”.
Let me leave it to the readers to weigh in on the government tell how satisfied they are with how the cases of corruption, investigation, combating malpractices have been handled.