Beware! The Plantain You Eat May Be Toxic “We, market women and killers are the same. Those who add chemicals to foodstuffs do not consume them; they only sell them”

Vendors at Madina and Bohye markets in Ghana's Greater Accra Region have expressed worry over the use of chemicals to unnaturally ripen fruits and other agricultural products, urging stronger government oversight to shield consumers. The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has been urged to investigate the issue, with traders warning that unsuspecting buyers may ingest dangerous substances.

The traders raised these concerns during a stakeholder meeting organized by the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly. Notably, one trader questioned why chemicals, suspected of being used for artificial ripening, are allowed to enter the country and queried why those adding these substances to food do not consume them themselves.

Accusing importers of bringing these chemicals into the country, the trader alleged that many food items on the market are already contaminated. She called for the removal of these harmful substances from the market and stronger regulation of their importation and distribution. The traders also appealed for increased monitoring and enforcement to prevent the misuse of chemicals in food.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly has ordered an investigation into these allegations, promising to pursue those found responsible. This comes as Ghana grapples with growing worries about food safety and the need for tighter controls over chemicals entering the country's food supply chain.