Municipal Environmental Officer at the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, Victor Acquaye has engaged in dialogue with some food vendors from Tema Station (a popular business centre) in Accra on food safety methods.
According to him, the dialogue was not only to educate the food vendors of personal hygiene among others but also seek their views on how to improve market and boost sales.
In an interview with Thinknewsoline.com, Mr. Acquaye said "Today, we have met with some food vendors from Tema Station. The idea is to have a dialogue where we will educate them on hygiene and then they will also tell us what some of their challenges are. There are public health laws and bylaws on food"
"We need them to buy in and understand the process by which we can transform the way we display our foods and also its condition"
Mr. Acquaye tasked the food vendors to underscore the need to protect, preserve, package well and make good money"
"It is sad to see people go to malls and big places to buy all they need when they can get them from the market at cheaper prices but since the food vendor has failed to observe any health issues, he or she loses a customer or even potential clients"
He stressed that artisans will be employed to design systems
"We are in June, so let's say, we will give them a timeline of three months so they can go and deliberate, come back and report what their challenges are to Authorities"
Mr. Acquaye added that he is hopeful the project will commence in September.
He noted that once the markets are improved, it will help reduce the high rates of cholera and diahorrea.
"The soil is already charged with food pathogens therefore, it important for all to welcome this initiative and let us not only save lives but have clean markets."
The food vendors commended the Municipal Assembly for the initiative.
They appealed to the Municipal Environmental Officer at the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly to put things in place and not make only empty promises.
Watch the video below:
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith