FDA, Assemblies must act to protect Ghana’s food chain — Kosi Dedey

Policy Analyst Michael Kosi Dedey has called on the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to strengthen monitoring of food safety standards across the country.

His comments follow the FDA’s confiscation of smoked and dried fish processed under unhygienic conditions at Tema Newtown after a viral video exposed poor handling practices by some fish processors.

Speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily programme on Wednesday, July 29, Kosi Dedey said weak enforcement of food safety regulations was contributing to increased health challenges among Ghanaians.

He argued that the FDA and local authorities must take greater responsibility for monitoring the food production chain, including the cultivation and processing of food consumed by the public.

"The FDA is sitting there. The municipal assemblies are all sitting there. So our foods are getting toxic, and with the galamsey, it's not getting any better," said the analyst.

The policy analyst said unsafe farming practices, including the misuse of some agricultural chemicals on vegetables, could expose consumers to long-term health risks.

He stressed that poor regulation of the food chain could increase pressure on the country’s healthcare system as more people seek treatment for preventable conditions.

"If we don't watch the food chain, we end up seeking more medication, and the health facilities are not available. So these are the problems we are creating for ourselves as a society," he noted.

The FDA, in a statement issued on Tuesday, July 28, said its rapid response team, in collaboration with the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and the Ghana Police Service, visited the location where the fish was being processed and confiscated products exposed to unhygienic conditions.

The Authority also said the fish processors were educated on the health risks associated with poor handling practices and announced plans to engage processors and fish mongers in coastal districts on safe processing methods.

The FDA has advised consumers to buy smoked and dried fish from reputable sources, inspect products before purchase and ensure fish is properly washed and cooked before consumption.