GMA Warns Of Growing Food Safety Crises
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has raised concerns over the persistent burden of food poisoning, diarrhoeal diseases, and diet-related illnesses in the country, warning that unsafe food practices continue to pose a serious threat to public health.
Speaking at the Association’s 26th Annual Public Lecture on the theme “Food Safety in Contemporary Ghana: Public Health Concerns for the Consumer,” GMA President, Prof. Ernest Yorke, said many food-related illnesses are preventable but remain widespread due to poor food safety practices across the food production and distribution chain.
He identified excessive pesticide use, harmful chemical preservatives, food adulteration, and poor handling practices during production, processing, transportation, storage, and sale as major contributors to the growing incidence of foodborne diseases and chronic health conditions.
According to Prof. Yorke, exposure to unsafe food not only leads to food poisoning and diarrhoeal infections but also increases the risk of long-term health complications, placing an unnecessary burden on Ghana’s healthcare system.
He stressed that ensuring food safety requires a collective effort involving farmers, food processors, transporters, food vendors, regulatory agencies, policymakers, and consumers.
The GMA President called for stricter enforcement of food safety regulations, enhanced surveillance systems, and sustained public education to promote safe food handling and consumption practices. He also urged authorities to intensify monitoring of pesticide use and crack down on the use of unapproved chemicals and food adulterants.
Prof. Yorke further encouraged consumers to remain vigilant by purchasing food from hygienic sources, observing proper food handling practices at home, and reporting suspected food safety violations to the appropriate authorities.
He noted that strengthening food safety systems is essential to reducing preventable illnesses, improving nutrition, lowering healthcare costs, and safeguarding the health and productivity of the population.
The GMA maintains that protecting consumers from unsafe food must remain a national priority, requiring coordinated action across the entire food value chain to ensure that food produced and sold in Ghana is safe for consumption.
Author: Joyce Owusu
#Ghana Medical Association, #Food Safety Crises, #Public Health
