By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Director of Metro Public Health at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Florence Kuukyi, has warned that meat sellers who fail to renew their medical certificates could face prosecution and possible imprisonment of up to three months under public health regulations.
According to her, proper handling of meat continues to remain a major public health concern in Ghana’s open markets, prompting health officials to intensify education and inspections aimed at preventing the spread of foodborne diseases.
Speaking on GBC’s Real Time live program at the Kaneshie Market in Accra, Madam Florence Kuukyi said authorities and meat sellers are working together to ensure meat sold to consumers is safe, wholesome and properly handled despite challenges associated with heat, sanitation and limited refrigeration facilities.
She explained that ensuring meat is safe for human consumption involves a rigorous process beginning from the slaughter facility to the market stall. According to her, animals first undergo ante-mortem inspection where veterinary officers examine them before slaughter to detect diseases or abnormalities.
She also noted that after slaughter, post-mortem inspections are also conducted on carcasses and internal organs to identify infections such as tuberculosis and other diseases that may pose health risks to consumers. She said only meat that passes these inspections is stamped and issued with veterinary receipts confirming that it is fit for human consumption.
The Metro Public Health Director further explained that health officers routinely request veterinary receipts from meat sellers before meat is allowed onto the market. She added that any diseased meat identified during inspection is immediately condemned and handed over to environmental health officers for proper disposal.
Madam Florence Kuukyi stressed that maintaining proper hygiene within the market environment is equally important in preventing contamination. According to her, health officials regularly monitor drainage systems, sanitation conditions and meat handling practices to ensure bacteria do not spread through dirty surfaces, stagnant water or flies.
She also identified cross-contamination caused by the repeated use of knives, chopping boards and work surfaces without proper cleaning as another major concern. Meat sellers are therefore being encouraged to wear aprons and caps, maintain clean surroundings and ensure regular hand washing while handling meat products.
On medical screening, Madam Florence Kuukyi said all meat handlers are required by law to renew their medical certificates regularly to confirm that they are medically fit to handle food products intended for public consumption.
She warned that failure to renew the certificates constitutes an offence and offenders could face prosecution or imprisonment for up to three months.
Some meat sellers at the Kaneshie Market say they comply with the regulations and are doing their best to preserve the freshness of meat despite limited cold storage facilities in some sections of the market.
The traders are however appealing for a reduction in the cost of mandatory medical screening and certificate renewal to make compliance easier.
Buyers who spoke to GBC News also called for continuous inspections and stricter enforcement of hygiene regulations to ensure wholesome meat is sold to the public.
Health officials have meanwhile assured consumers that regular inspections remain ongoing to protect public health and prevent contaminated meat from reaching the market.
