Accra Mayor Equips Metro Public Health Dept with Contaminated Food Items After Floods
The Mayor, Mr. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has presented logistics worth thousands of cedis to the Metro Public Health Department to support a city-wide enforcement drive following recent floods in Accra.
This initiative is to stop contaminated food items from reaching consumers, with the Mayor warning traders that offenders will face prosecution.
The items included 1,000 body bags, 500 blankets, PPE such as N95 masks, gloves and Wellington boots, disinfectant chemicals, knapsack sprayers and mist blowers.
According to the Mayor, the equipment will help Environmental Health Officers inspect markets, warehouses and food-vending points hit by floodwater.
Speaking at the presentation on Thursday, Mr. Allotey said floodwater often carries sewage, waste and chemicals that make food dangerous.
“Food items exposed to floodwater cannot be considered safe for human consumption,” he said.
He also noted that the authorities will intensify monitoring in markets and commercial areas to identify and remove contaminated food items, adding that offenders who breach food safety and sanitation by-laws will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The Mayor urged traders and shop owners whose goods were affected to cooperate with officers and avoid drying, repackaging or selling the items.
The Mayor explained that the response would go beyond clean-up exercises to include public education, disinfection of affected spaces, and strict enforcement of AMA’s food safety by-laws.
He also called on residents to report anyone suspected of selling or storing flood-contaminated goods, saying “community vigilance is critical to preventing contaminated food from entering the food chain.”
Receiving the items, Mr. George Lawson of the Metro Public Health Department thanked the Mayor. He said the logistics would boost field operations to inspect food premises, monitor markets and carry out disinfection in the hardest-hit communities.
Areas such as Avenor, Circle, Kaneshie and Bubuashie were among those severely affected by the recent rains.
The AMA says the enforcement exercise will continue in all affected communities until public health risks are contained.
Bala Ali, ISD
