Correspondence from Ashanti Region

As part of the World Food Safety Day celebrations, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has held a sensitisation programme for market women at the Santasi Market in Kumasi, emphasising public vigilance and warning that those who sell unsafe food products will be prosecuted.

David Oppong Darko, Ashanti Regional Environmental Health Officer of the FDA, reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to educating both vendors and consumers during the outreach event. “Even yesterday, we had one, and today we are with the Santasi Market Women. And it is all about education,” he said.

Oppong Darko explained that the FDA’s sensitisation focused on protecting food from contamination and discouraging the use of harmful additives, particularly in palm oil. “They have been advised not to add additives to the palm oil that they are selling and other foodstuffs. It has been very interactive, and they gave us their full participation,” he noted.

The FDA also stressed the importance of maintaining hygiene throughout the food supply chain — from production and transportation to display. Mr. Darko raised concerns over poor practices, saying: “Some of them put food items on the bare floor, and that’s what the FDA is against. We’ve taught them that they are not supposed to put the food items on the floor to sell, and those that are supposed to be covered must be covered.”

He issued a stern warning against the use of dangerous preservatives like formalin: “We have heard that some market women are using formalin to preserve the fish and meat they are selling. It is a crime. We have made it clear to them that if any of them is doing that, they should desist. Because when the law catches up with them, it will not be easy at all.”

Darko further urged consumers to be vigilant when buying food. “When you go out to buy food items, look at the environment. Don’t just buy from anywhere. If sellers operate in unhygienic areas and we refuse to buy from them, they cannot sell.”

He concluded by calling for collective action, emphasising that food safety is a shared responsibility. “When you go out and see a practice that is against the norm, report it to environmental officers or FDA authorities so they can take action. Don’t just look away. If you see something, say something. The authorities will act upon it as quickly as possible.”

The FDA encouraged the public to report any suspected violations to help ensure the safety of food sold in the region.

Meanwhile, watch the trailer for GhanaWeb’s yet-to-air documentary on teenage girls and how fish is stealing their futures below: