The KNUST Nutrition and Sustainable Agri-food Collaborative (Nkabom Collaborative), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has opened the second cohort of its Food Hygiene and Sanitation Short Course, a five-day programme designed to equip 25 participants from across Ghana with skills in food safety, hygiene, sanitation and regulatory compliance.
Facilitator Zeenatu Adams said Ghana must urgently strengthen food safety systems within the agricultural value chain to curb losses and meet industry standards.
“We know that the agric space is one of the strongholds of Ghana, but there is still a major challenge with post-harvest losses,” she said.
She noted that although the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Ghana Standards Authority set the required frameworks, many small businesses lack the knowledge needed to meet and maintain certification.
“As we push for more food processing, whether for the local or international market, we must ensure that our foods meet the right standards,” she said.
“There’s a bigger gap where businesses do not understand the requirements for having a sustainable food safety system,” she added.
Adams said the programme equips participants with skills in proper food handling, certification processes, regulatory understanding and effective business management.
Facilitator Maurice Nanon-Yibe Avicor described HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) as an essential global food-safety management tool that enables firms to maintain consumer confidence and minimise risk.
“HACCP allows businesses to identify hazards and put measures in place to eliminate or control them along the food chain,” he said.
“As participants go through this training, they gain the knowledge needed to ensure they are producing safe food for consumers,” he added.
Avicor said the Nkabom Collaborative serves as an important platform for knowledge transfer within Ghana’s food industry.
Another facilitator, Dr. Nana Baah Pepra-Ameyaw, highlighted the wider national value of enforcing safety systems.
“Food safety is a national concern, yet many outbreaks go unreported,” he said.
He added that broader adherence to safety protocols would support public health and improve the competitiveness of the country’s agri-food industry.
