13 Jun
The Kwahu West Municipal Assembly has published a report on the destruction of unwholesome, confiscated food, drugs, herbal and cosmetic products carried out by the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit in accordance with public health regulations and court directives.
The report documents enforcement activities undertaken to safeguard public health within the municipality and is available for public access below.
Download the Report on Destruction of Unwholesome Food and Products (PDF)
14 Jan
28 Sep
Background
Street foods have raised significant public health concerns due to the increasing incidence of foodborne diseases documented over the past decade. The alarming rate of foodborne diseases in Ghana has prompted authorities to strengthen food safety and hygiene practices. As part of these efforts, food vendors are encouraged to undergo mandatory medical screenings conducted by certified laboratory technicians.
Screening Initiative
To address this concern, the Municipal Assembly, in collaboration with Alpha Homeopathic & Botanic Medical Clinic, organized a medical screening exercise for all food vendors within the Municipality. The exercise was closely supervised by the relevant Unit within the Assembly to ensure compliance and efficiency.
Screening Statistics
During the period under review, a total of 4,876 food and drink vendors participated in the screening exercise. The gender distribution was as follows:
• Males: 397
• Females: 4,479
Screening Results
The screening results were categorized into reactive (positive for certain medical conditions) and non-reactive (negative for the tested conditions). The breakdown is as follows:
| Screening Status | Male | Female | Total Screened |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Reactive | – | – | 4,652 |
| Reactive | – | – | 224 |
| Total | 397 | 4,479 | 4,876 |
Following the mass screening, a mop-up exercise was conducted to ensure full coverage within the Municipality.
Recommendations and Follow-up
The 224 vendors who tested reactive have been advised on the necessary medical steps to take, including treatment and follow-ups. The Municipal Assembly, in collaboration with health officials, will continue to enforce food safety regulations and promote periodic medical screenings to safeguard public health.
Conclusion
This initiative marks a significant step in ensuring that food sold to the public is handled by healthy vendors, ultimately reducing the risk of foodborne diseases within the Municipality. The Municipal Assembly remains committed to public health safety and urges all vendors to prioritize their health for the well-being of consumers.
20 Nov
02 Jun
Nkawkaw, Kwahu West Municipal Assembly – In a commendable effort to safeguard public health and maintain sanitation standards, the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit of the Kwahu West Municipal Assembly carried out a successful operation to destroy unwholesome food, drugs, and cosmetic products. The confiscated items, estimated to be worth Nine Thousand Ghana cedis (GHc 9000), were removed from stores in Nkawkaw, the Municipal Capital.
Various items seized from offending shops to be disposed off
Spanning a period from December 19th, 2022, to March 31st of the current year, the operation was conducted in two phases. The primary objective was to eradicate expired and potentially harmful goods that posed risks to consumers.
Under the watchful eyes of the media, the police, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), court bailiffs, public health officers, and concerned citizens, the two-hour exercise unfolded flawlessly. The multi-stakeholder participation aimed to ensure transparency, accountability, and to educate the general public about the importance of consuming safe and quality products.
Stakeholders, including the media, police, and public health officers, observing the destruction process.
The Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit acted swiftly, seizing unwholesome products from various stores within the municipality. These items were unfit for consumption or use due to factors such as expiration, inadequate storage conditions, or compromised quality.
The destruction process meticulously followed proper protocols to ensure the safe disposal of the confiscated items, minimizing any potential risks to public health and the environment. By effectively eliminating these unwholesome products, the Kwahu West Municipal Assembly has taken a proactive stance in protecting the well-being of its residents.
Mr. Joseph Krampah, Municipal Environmental Health Officer, overseeing the disposal operation
The presence of the media and other stakeholders during the operation served to raise awareness about the importance of purchasing and using only certified and wholesome goods. It also showcased the commitment of the Municipal Assembly to maintain high environmental and health standards within the region.
Stakeholders, including the media, police, and public health officers, observing the destruction process.
The successful execution of this initiative underscores the dedication and professionalism of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit of the Kwahu West Municipal Assembly. By proactively addressing the issue of unwholesome products, the municipality demonstrates its commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens.
Proper burying of unwholesome items by the Environmental Health Unit
Moving forward, it is crucial for both regulatory bodies and consumers to remain vigilant in identifying and reporting any potential health hazards or unwholesome products. By working together, the community can play an active role in promoting a safe and healthy environment for all.
14 May
In a bid to ensure a clean and sound environment in every human settlement, opinion leaders including family heads, Assembly members, and Unit Committee members came together to organize a clean-up exercise on May 14th, 2022. The exercise was part of their responsibilities to ensure a clean environment and promote good health among members of the community.
The Environmental Health and Sanitation staff played a vital role in sensitizing and mobilizing the community through a series of announcements made via information centers and meetings with family heads prior to the exercise. Zoomlion workers were also in attendance to support the exercise, which saw a massive turnout from community members.
During the exercise, men weeded alongside the road and open spaces, while women swept along the shoulders of the road around the SDA School. Zoomlion laborers helped the people to desilt the drains along the Apesika streets, making sure that the entire community was thoroughly cleaned.
The people in the community were delighted with the work they did themselves, and after the clean-up exercise, a public forum was held with the participants. The Municipal Environmental Health Officer addressed the participants on the importance of keeping their environment clean and urged them to continue working together to maintain a healthy and clean environment.
Overall, the community clean-up exercise was a huge success, and the efforts of all those involved have helped to ensure a safer and healthier environment for the people living in the area.
10 Feb
A general cleanup exercise was held at the Nkawkaw by-pass in the Kwahu West Municipality on February 10th, 2022, with an emphasis on desilting the drains, sweeping and weeding the median of the Accra-Kumasi High Way, and cleaning the truck park.
Through a number of announcements made through the Information Centers, the Environmental Health Unit and the local Assemblyman educated and mobilized the community.
Hawkers, employees from the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit, and a few residents of the neighborhood attended. There was extensive drain de-silting going on, and people were sweeping the streets and other public spaces, particularly the highway hawking areas.
After the cleanup exercise, the Environmental Health Officers and Hon. Asamoah, the community’s Assemblyman, met with the participants to discuss the sanitation issue the area was facing.
From the discussions they gathered that the by-pass had become a hotbed of illegal activities. The hawkers who had set up shop there had created an unauthorized dumping site, which was an eyesore for those passing by. Despite efforts to clear the area, some stores remained open, and the majority of the hawkers continued selling their wares. Adding to the chaos were the unauthorized structures erected in-between the two roads at the by-pass. To make matters worse, heavy duty truck drivers and their mates were using the land in between the two roads as a defecating ground. It was clear that urgent action was needed to clean up the area and restore order.
They therefore recommended that the hawkers who are creating an unauthorized dumping site must be caught and prosecuted to discourage others from engaging in such illegal activities. The Assembly should continue to intensify health education to ensure that all citizens are aware of the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy environment.
The unauthorized structures erected at the by-pass should be removed, and the area should be greened by the Physical Planning Department of the Municipal Assembly to beautify the environment. Furthermore, the Assembly should task the City Guards/Police Officers to be on guard at the by-pass to arrest unauthorized defecating offenders for prosecution. By implementing these measures, the authorities can ensure that the by-pass is clean, safe and aesthetically pleasing for all those who use it.
11 Jan
