Ghana’s National Security has launched a special operation in Kumasi to remove a widely consumed herbal cocktail known as Madara Sukudai from the streets following alarming laboratory findings. Preliminary tests by the Department of Pharmacology at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) revealed the drink contains harmful chemicals including acetone, zinc chloride, and ethanol.
Researchers conducting acute toxicity tests found that laboratory rats given low, medium, and high doses of the concoction all died within 24 hours. The chemical mixture was also observed to melt plastic containers, raising serious safety concerns. According to the Head of the Department of Pharmacology at KNUST, Professor Cynthia Amaning Danquah, the substances identified are corrosive and could cause severe gastrointestinal irritation and damage to vital organs such as the liver and kidneys.
Despite being marketed by some sellers as a “heart cleanser,” medical experts warn that the burning sensation users experience may actually be caused by the corrosive nature of the chemicals. A consultant nephrologist at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Professor Elliot Koranteng Tannor, cautioned that ingestion could lead to serious health complications and may be linked to unexplained kidney problems seen in hospitals.
The drink is commonly sold in Zongo communities and mechanic shops, often by Nigerien traders. Following weeks of surveillance, National Security operatives arrested a trader suspected of supplying the chemicals used to produce the cocktail. Authorities have described the widespread sale of Sukudai as a national security and public health concern.
While further chronic toxicity studies are underway at KNUST, health officials are urging the public to immediately avoid consuming the drink as investigations continue.