Dormaa Central Municipal Assembly to Prosecute Unhygienic Food Traders

The Environmental Health Officer of Dormaa Central Municipal Assembly, Mr Justice Owusu Ansah Pobee has warned that the Assembly would take legal action against traders who sell food items under unhygienic conditions at marketplaces in the municipality.

Mr Pobee, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, expressed concern about the lack of adherence to proper hygiene standards among some food vendors in the area, despite the numerous awareness creation and sensitisation campaigns that had been carried out.

The Environmental Health Unit staff had been educating the public to make informed decisions when purchasing food items and advised buyers to patronise sellers who operate in clean environments at the marketplace.

However, some traders continue to flout the rules, attracting flies and selling food items on mats laid on the bare ground along the shoulders of roads.

Mr Pobee explained that the Assembly had received the support of opinion leaders and chiefs in the municipality for the exercise’s success, and anyone who refused to comply with the demand of the laws relating to environmental health for the health and safety of the public would be prosecuted.

He expressed concern that relatives of traders who flout the Assembly’s orders often visited the office to plead on their behalf, saying such approaches only perpetuate wrongdoing in society.

For the most part, the Assembly would continue to embark on educational campaigns to change people’s negative attitudes and behaviour by effectively applying the Assembly’s byelaws against offenders to encourage law-abiding citizens.

In a nutshell, the Assembly would not tolerate unhygienic food practices, and food vendors must adhere to proper hygiene standards to prevent the spread of diseases and ensure the safety of consumers.