By Daily Newsflash | Koforidua
Published: August 10, 2026
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) says Ghana’s food-safety crisis is not caused by a lack of laws, but by weak enforcement, poor laboratory capacity, and slow adaptation to new threats.
In a communiqué issued after its 26th Annual Public Lecture in Koforidua on July 24, 2026, the GMA stated that Ghana already has a regulatory framework covering food safety, including the Public Health Act, 2012 and the Food and Drugs Authority Act.
“Ghana’s challenge is not a lack of policy but deficiencies in enforcement, laboratory capacity, and adaptation to emerging risks,” the Association said.
Key concerns raised
The GMA called for an urgent expansion of enforcement capacity, including additional regulatory personnel and stronger food-safety laboratory infrastructure across all regions.
It urged the Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Standards Authority and other regulatory bodies to intensify market surveillance to detect and prevent the sale of unsafe and adulterated foods.
The Association identified hazards across the food chain including:
– Sudan Red dye in palm oil
– Lead contamination in turmeric and spices
– Adulterated tomato paste
– Illegal fruit-ripening agents
– Pesticide and antibiotic residues in poultry products
Market and infrastructure gaps
The GMA also cited poor market conditions compounding the problem, such as inadequate access to potable water, contaminated packaging, poor rodent control, and weaknesses in storage and transportation.
Recommendations
The Association recommended:
1. Stronger border controls* to prevent unsafe food imports
2. District Assemblies to enact food-safety bylaws without delay
3. Increased investment in potable water, cold-chain facilities, and labs capable of detecting emerging contaminants
4. Closer collaboration with market traders and the informal food sector as partners, not just enforcement targets
“Safe food should be everywhere, regardless of where consumers get it,” the communiqué said, reiterating the central message of the lecture.
The 26th GMA Annual Public Lecture was themed: _“Food Safety in Contemporary Ghana: Public Health Concerns for the Consumer.”_
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