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🇬🇭 Ghana /Crime & Justice

FDA Shuts Down 3 Facilities Over Food Safety Violations in Greater Accra

From Ghanaian Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in Ghana has shut down three facilities in the Greater Accra Region for food safety violations.
  • Inspectors found untreated water, poor hygiene, and lack of sterilization systems at sachet water producers and a cold store.
  • The FDA is conducting a nationwide campaign to enforce regulations and protect public health, warning businesses about penalties for non-compliance.

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in Ghana has taken decisive action, shutting down two unlicensed sachet water production facilities and a cold store in the Greater Accra Region. Inspectors uncovered significant hygiene and food safety violations, including the use of untreated and algae-contaminated water for production and inadequate storage conditions for food products.

The operation formed part of the authority’s routine inspection and enforcement activities aimed at protecting public health.

— Mrs Rhoda AppiahAddressing journalists after the exercise, the FDA’s Head of Communications explained the purpose of the inspection.

These closures are part of a broader nationwide enforcement campaign by the FDA. Over the past two weeks, this exercise has led to the temporary closure of 59 food manufacturing and cold storage facilities across different municipalities. The affected sachet water producers were found to be operating without essential ultraviolet (UV) sterilization systems, packaging untreated water for public consumption.

Officials noted that one targeted facility evaded closure as operators had left before inspectors arrived, suggesting a possible leak of information. The FDA's Head of Communications, Mrs. Rhoda Appiah, emphasized that these routine inspections aim to protect public health. She reminded businesses that operating without valid licenses risks closure, product confiscation, fines, and potential prosecution under the Public Health Act.

Businesses operating without valid licences risk temporary closure, confiscation of products, administrative fines of up to GH¢30,000 and possible prosecution.

— Mrs Rhoda AppiahThe FDA's Head of Communications warned about the penalties for non-compliant businesses.

The FDA urges consumers to purchase only FDA-approved products from licensed manufacturers and to verify registration numbers. The authority stated that the shut-down facilities will only be allowed to resume operations after implementing all necessary corrective measures and fully complying with regulatory requirements.

Consumers should buy only FDA-approved products from licensed manufacturers and verify that packaged food products carry valid FDA registration numbers before purchase.

— Mrs Rhoda AppiahThe FDA official urged consumers to be vigilant about the products they purchase.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ghanaian Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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