By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Consultant Toxicologist at the Forensic Investigation for National Development Ghana (FIND-GH), Yakubu Adam has sounded alarm on the amount of agrochemicals found in the food we eat.
He called on government to take urgent action to address the growing threat of agrochemical contamination in the country’s food supply, warning that the public is being exposed to dangerous levels of heavy metals and pesticides.
Speaking at ‘The Media and Food Safety’ Public Forum on Thursday, November 20, 2025 in Accra, Mr. Adam said the presence of toxic substances such as mercury, lead, and other heavy metals in food is a ticking time bomb that requires immediate attention. “Currently, we are consuming mercury, lead and other heavy metals in our food as a result of illegal mining”.
Mr. Adam emphasized at the forum themed; “Enhancing Public Awareness on Agrochemical Use in Ghana“, that the country does not need scientists to reveal that something is harmful before action is taken.
“The fact that scientists have not told us that some agrochemicals are deleterious does not mean that they are not.”, he stressed.
Dr. Adam’s appeal comes as concerns grow about the impact of illegal mining and the unchecked use of agrochemicals on Ghana’s food safety. He noted that the country’s food experts at the Ghana Standards Authority, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) must be given the necessary support to address the issue.
“I am appealing to the government to pay critical attention to the food experts at the Ghana Standards Authority, EPA and FDA. It is high time we sat together as a country to find lasting solutions to the chemical exposures in our food”.
Mr. Adam further urged the government to take a proactive approach, investing in robust food safety regulations, enforcement, and public education campaigns to protect citizens from the dangers of toxic chemicals in their food.
“We must take urgent precautionary measures in the food we consume before it becomes too late,” he emphasized.
One Response
It is influenced by the growing interest of farmers in looking at the acreages but not necessarily outputs or yields. To control these, we have to discourage the use of agrochemicals whiles classifying the trading of our farm produce just like abroad where organic products cost more than in organic products. Additionally, the should be the withdrawal of all form of subsidies on agrochemicals thus the in organics whiles leveraging on the organics. The laws must strengthened by the duty bearers. Of late, the agrochemical commerce has become so lucrative such everybody is now an agro input dealer. Why?Let us wake up.