The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has cautioned the public against purchasing food sold near open drains, stressing that the practice poses serious risks to public health. Mr. Roderick Daddey-Adjei, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the FDA’s Food Division, noted that the widespread habit of preparing and selling food in unsanitary environments continues to hinder national efforts to strengthen food safety standards
“Food should not be sold by a gutter, and we will not defend that,” Mr Daddey-Adjei said during a radio interview on Citi FM on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
He characterised the issue as a deeply rooted cultural challenge that requires both stronger enforcement and a change in consumer behaviour. “Over time, we have developed poor practices. Sanitation and education must be prioritised. Anyone concerned about food safety should recognise that no vendor—whether selling waakye, kebab, or kenkey—ought to operate beside an open gutter,” he stated.
Mr. Daddey-Adjei emphasised that consumers also bear responsibility for safeguarding their health by refusing to purchase food from vendors working in unsafe environments. “Educating consumers is essential so they can make informed decisions. Without their involvement, this effort cannot succeed. The statistics are alarming, and enforcement alone will not resolve the problem,” he added.
He noted that the Authority is conducting public education campaigns in markets and communities to help people recognise unhygienic practices and make safer food choices. “The FDA moves from market to market, meeting vendors, engaging market queens, and teaching the fundamentals of food hygiene and proper handwashing. This work is ongoing, but consumers must also take responsibility,” he emphasised.
Mr. Daddey-Adjei acknowledged that enforcement remains a major challenge, particularly due to the large number of informal food vendors nationwide. “The task is enormous, and staffing is limited. Local assemblies are mandated to oversee basic sanitation and hygiene, but our checks reveal that enforcement is inconsistent,” he explained.
He further clarified that under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), all food vendors—including itinerant sellers—are required to secure permits and comply with minimum hygiene standards before being allowed to operate. He admitted that compliance levels remain low and enforcement capacity is limited.
Mr Daddey-Adjei warned that poor food hygiene has direct consequences for public health, citing last year’s cholera outbreak, which spread from the Western Region to Central and Greater Accra.
“When people understand the need to comply, they will do what is expected. Food safety affects everyone because when people fall sick, the impact is felt by all,” he said. He urged the public to make safer choices by refusing to buy food sold in unhygienic locations. “If people stop buying food sold next to gutters and other unsafe places, vendors will be forced to change how they operate. That is one of the strongest tools available to us,” Mr Daddey-Adjei said.
Source: Mohammed Ali
