Ghana faces critically high rates of food contamination annually, leading to widespread food poisoning, numerous hospitalizations, and significant fatalities.
The Environmental Health Management and Sanitation Units (EHS) of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development reports over 626,000 cases of food poisoning each year. This alarming number results in approximately 298,100 hospitalizations and over 90,000 deaths, making up about 14 percent of all hospitalizations. The government spends over US$70 million annually to combat food-borne diseases.
This issue is not unique to Ghana. Across Africa, there are around 135 million cases of food contamination annually, resulting in over 140,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The problem disproportionately affects children and the economically disadvantaged. Globally, one in ten people fall ill from contaminated food each year, with over 200 diseases linked to food contamination.
Given these alarming statistics, the public is urged to exercise caution. This includes avoiding unhygienic food and agricultural products, checking labels and health certificates of facilities, and verifying the manufacturing and expiration dates of products.
These concerns were underscored at the Northern Regional launch of World Food Safety Day in Tamale. This year’s theme, “Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected,” focused on raising awareness about the importance of food safety and the role of the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) in educating the public about food safety preparedness.
The event brought together policymakers, food safety authorities, food business operators, farmers, and consumers to discuss ensuring food safety in Ghana.
Nora Narkie Terlabie, Director of Regional Operations at the FDA, stressed the importance of avoiding uncertified and unapproved food products for human safety. She also urged adherence to FDA directives and checking for FDA approval on packaged products.
Glenn Lines, Chief of Party for USAID – Market System and Resilience Activity in the Northern Region, highlighted the critical need to promote food safety.
Zakaria Braimah, Northern Regional Manager for the FDA, emphasized that access to safe and nutritious foods is crucial for health, longevity, and prosperity. He advised the public to pay close attention to product labels, expiration dates, and FDA seals to ensure authenticity, and to support well-packaged and hygienically handled products.
Traders and food operators were advised to source their products from credible sources to avoid creating health crises in the country.
Dr. Ernest Bonah, Principal Regulatory Officer at FDA Tamale, called for collective efforts from all stakeholders to promote food safety. He mentioned that the FDA would continue rigorous monitoring to remove unapproved products from the market and punish violators to serve as a deterrent.
In observance of World Food Safety Day, the FDA conducted awareness campaigns at Tamale Central Market and Aboabo Market to educate market women on the importance of food safety, promoting the sale of well-packaged and hygienically handled products.
