The Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD) has proposed the provision of subsidised gas and dedicated supply systems for slaughterhouses across the country to end the use of vehicle tyres in singeing animals for human consumption.
It explained that the long-standing practice exposed meat to chemical contamination and posed serious health risks to consumers.
The Risk Communication Officer of the VSD, Dr Benjamin Kisi Sasu, stated in an interview with The Ghanaian Times that the country could take a decisive step by providing gas facilities for slaughterhouses, similar to the premix fuel system for fishermen, with dedicated tankers ensuring regular supply.
He indicated that making gas affordable would discourage operators from resorting to tyres.
Dr Sasu made the remarks on the sidelines of a stakeholder engagement organised by the VSD to climax this year’s World Food Safety Month celebration.
The engagement brought together key players in the animal food value chain, including representatives from the livestock and poultry industries, fish farmers, customs officials, harbour authorities, meat inspectors, butchers, live bird marketers, livestock traders and regulators, to explore practical solutions to food safety challenges.
Dr Sasu noted that supporting slaughterhouse operators to transition to cleaner energy sources would help protect public health and reduce future healthcare costs.
He questioned why the country should wait for people to develop diseases such as cancer and incur huge treatment costs when preventive measures could be implemented.
He added that once affordable alternatives were made available, the law should be strictly enforced against those who continued to use tyres.
Dr Sasu also called for the development of standard architectural designs for slaughterhouses and meat processing facilities to improve hygiene, enhance food safety and ensure uniform standards nationwide.
He stressed that food safety required collective responsibility across the entire value chain, from production to consumption.
Dr Sasu therefore urged consumers to purchase meat from hygienic sources, ensure proper transportation of perishable foods, observe appropriate storage practices and encourage food handlers to maintain high standards of hygiene.
He emphasised that food safety involved all actors, including farmers, transporters, slaughter facilities, processors, traders, food vendors and households, each of whom had a role to play in ensuring that food was safe for consumption.
The Municipal Director of Health Services for La Dadekotopon, Dr Caryn Agyeman Prempeh, underscored the need for prevention, stronger collaboration and shared responsibility in advancing the One Health approach, which recognises the link between human, animal and environmental health.
She explained that the approach was critical to reducing the incidence of foodborne diseases in the country.
Dr Prempeh reaffirmed the commitment of the Ghana Health Service to supporting initiatives aimed at improving food safety, preventing foodborne diseases and strengthening the One Health approach for the benefit of the population.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
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