The Somanya Magistrate Court has convicted Salamatu Mohammed, a fried yam vendor at Nkurakan in Yilo Krobo Municipality, for selling food without undergoing medical examinations of fitness. The vendor was fined 50 penalty units, equivalent to GH₵600.
Salamatu pleaded guilty to the charge, contrary to Section 15 of the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly (General Sanitation) bye-law, 2022, which aims to ensure food hygiene and safety in the municipality.
According to Mr. Martin Abotsi, the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly Environmental Health Officer and Prosecutor, the Assembly conducted a municipal-wide medical examination for food handlers from February 27th to April 6th, 2023. A three-week mop-up exercise was also conducted in August 2023 to capture those who missed the previous session.
Mr. Abotsi warned that handling food without medical examinations poses a significant threat to public health, risking the transmission of diseases like typhoid, hepatitis A, and other food-borne illnesses to consumers.
“The accused person failed to honour the obligation under the bye-law and was summoned to court and prosecuted accordingly,” he emphasized.
The conviction and fine serve as a warning to food vendors in the municipality to prioritize food hygiene and safety by undergoing the required medical examinations.
