The public has urged to take caution with the animal products they consume to safeguard their health, as the Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) highlights its challenges in ensuring product safety.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s Food Safety Month in Accra, the Greater Accra Regional Veterinary Director, Dr. Joseph Kofi Abuh, emphasized the importance of being mindful of the quality of animal products purchased, especially given the ongoing resistance faced by the VSD and resource limitations.
“You are what you eat so when buying food, especially animal products and you are told this animal is not in good condition, it’s not from recognised sources, it unhealthy for consumption and you buy because it’s cheap, it’s your own health you are putting at risk.
“We are the authority for animal health and veterinary public health but we are constrained in terms of finances, human resources, and logistics among others.
“…Our officers on the ground are sometimes physically abused, we don’t always have the full cooperation of the police to enforce the law. Some of these butchers also have political backings, if not, slaughterhouses in Accra, like Tulaku, Avenor and Jamestown should have been closed down by now because we have raised alarm several times of the unhealthy practices at these places,” the Greater Accra Regional Veterinary Director, Dr Joseph Kofi Abuh, cautioned.
Under the theme “Food Safety: Preparing for the unexpected,” this year’s awareness campaign aims to underscore the proactive measures needed to manage food safety risks, particularly those related to animal health.
Dr. Abuh stressed the significance of empowering the VSD fully to prevent foodborne illnesses and maintain the integrity of the food value chain, despite constraints in finances, human resources, and logistics.
Highlighting the need for legislative support, Dr. Abuh called for the prompt review of the Diseases Animal Act 1961 to enact the Animal Health Bill, which would delineate stakeholder roles along the animal production value chain.
“We believe the Animal Health Bill is very critical for food security and public health. The bill has been undergoing review since 2010 and is currently with the Attorney General’s office. We want them to speed it up to move it to parliament so it can be passed into law.”
Echoing these sentiments, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Yaw Fenteng Danso, reiterated the VSD’s commitment to ensuring the safety of animal-derived food products for public consumption.
Throughout the month-long campaign, activities such as food safety campaigns at slaughterhouses and abattoirs, educational programs in schools, and cooking competitions will be organized by the VSD.
The initiative comes amid alarming statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), which reports that contaminated food causes illness and death for millions annually, with many diseases originating from animal sources.