The Somanya Magistrate Court, led by Derek Ocloo, has found Salamatu Mohammed, a fried yam vendor from Nkurakan in the Yilo Krobo Municipality, Eastern Region, guilty of selling food without proper medical clearance.
Salamatu received a fine of 50 penalty units, amounting to GH₵ 600.
She admitted to the charge, which falls under Section 15 of the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly’s (General Sanitation) bye-law, 2022, designed to ensure food safety and hygiene in the municipality.
Martin Abotsi, the Environmental Health Officer and Prosecutor for the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly, explained that a municipal-wide medical examination for food handlers was conducted from February 27th to April 6th, 2023, aiming to uphold food hygiene standards in areas including Nkurakan.
A subsequent three-week mop-up exercise took place in August 2023 to cover those who missed the initial examination. Despite multiple notifications, Salamatu failed to participate.
Abotsi stressed that her failure to comply with the bye-law led to her court summons and prosecution. He highlighted the public health risk posed by food handlers who do not undergo medical fitness examinations, as they might unknowingly spread diseases like typhoid, hepatitis A, and other food-borne illnesses, endangering the community.
