The Ministry of Health has called on consumers to be cautious about the sources of the meat they purchase to reduce the risk of food poisoning and other related health issues.
This caution was issued during a stakeholder meeting focused on research findings and recommendations to improve animal welfare, food safety, and the one-health approach in Ghana.
Dr. Hafez Adam Taher, Acting Director of Technical Coordination at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the critical need to educate stakeholders in the meat production chain, including slaughterhouse operators, butchers, and animal transporters, on best practices.
“We aim to involve not only representatives from environmental health, family health, and animal health but also slaughterhouse owners, butchers, and even those who transport the animals. Each has a critical role to play. We will educate them on proper procedures and ensure these are implemented to meet food quality and safety standards for the public,” Dr. Taher stated.
Call for Certification and Modernization
Professor Benjamin Emikpe, a lecturer at the School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Health Sciences, KNUST, underscored the importance of certifying slaughterhouses and conducting regular inspections to ensure compliance with proper meat handling and preservation standards.
“It’s not that they lack training. They are trained in school but are unfamiliar with modern equipment—either because they don’t have access to it or the available tools are outdated. There is a need to upgrade abattoirs, provide the necessary equipment, and offer hands-on training for workers to handle it effectively,” Professor Emikpe noted.
Commitment to Public Health
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with other stakeholders, reaffirmed its commitment to implementing measures that will enhance food safety and public health standards in Ghana.
These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to protect consumers while ensuring the sustainability of the meat production industry. The Ministry also urged the public to prioritize buying meat from certified and reliable sources to safeguard their health.
