Microbiological studies show that “fufu” a local dish, is more at risk of contamination than other foods sold on the Ghanaian streets. Analysis of heavy metal residues indicated concentration of the heavy lead in street foods were generally low. However, cooking pots produced by informal manufacturers contained high concentrations of (419 kg) that could leach into foods at levels slightly above the maximum permitted level.
This was made known by Professor Paa Nii Johnson in his presentation on the topic “A Research on Street Food Vending in Ghana: The Past, Present and Future”. Prof. Johnson was speaking at the launch of the Denmark-Ghana Pilot Research Corporation Programme on Ghana Street Foods Project.
The Ghana Street Food Project is sponsored by the Danish Fellowship Centre (DFC).It is also a collaboration between KNUST and the University of Copahagen with support from the Food Research Institute of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research. It is on the theme “Enhancing the performance and growth potential of street food vending for accelerated socio-economic development in Ghana”.
Professor Johnson stated that water is a major constraint to food vendors in Accra and Kumasi, which is a serious threat to food safety from street vendors. He also lamented on the poor knowledge of food safety to most street food vendors.
Iddi Asumah, from the Environmental Health Unit of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA), stated in his presentation that street food vending is the most lucrative business in the Tamale Metropolis, however the hygiene of these foods is a serious concern for all stakeholders.
Mr. Asumah advocated for proper disposal of waste, control of sale of prepared foods at all levels through education, surveys, medical examination and certification of food vendors.
Akanaba Paul Abaa, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Health officer, said seventy percent (70%) of reported cases in hospitals in the Kumasi Metropolis are environmentally related. He stated that most foods especially poultry and meat become contaminated with salmonella and costridia before they get to the kitchen due to poor food handling and storage.
Mr. Akanaba Akaa said careless handling of food during transportation, manufacturing, preparation and service may add and spread bacteria into food. He said hands can transfer food poisoning from raw to cooked foods.
Again, personal bacteria from the nose, skin, mouth of humans can contaminate food and cause illness.
He mentioned the concentration of traders in the Central Business District and the reluctance of traders to relocate to satellite markets in the metropolis as contributory factors to the problem of hygiene, which consequently make sanitary facilities overburdened.
Mr. Akanaba Paul Abaa bemoaned the interference from someTraditional and Opinion leaders in Kumasi, obsolete bye -laws and the inadequate support of the media as some of the challenges they encounter in executing their duties.
Mr. Akanaba Abaa called for the promulgation of new bye-laws and stiffer punishments on laws governing food and environmental safety. He also called for public and media support to be able to execute their mandate as the planning authority for the Metropolis.
It is expected that the group discussions segment would help participants to generate key research questions, implementation plan based on PhD synopsis which will be presented to ensure that the research is translated into practical action.
