Court fines three soap makers

The Tuobodom Magistrate Court in the Techiman North District of Brong-Ahafo Region has fined three women GHC660.00 for illegally making local soaps (Tamale Banku) harmful to human health and environment.

In default, Vida Kissiwaa 45, who was fined GHC240, Sabina Kusi 40, fined GHC300 and Florence Kruwaa 43, fined GHC120, would go to prison for three weeks each.

They pleaded guilty to the charge of illegally manufacturing harmful product and the Court presided by Mr. Justice Abdul H. Abdulai accordingly gave them the respective fines.

Prosecuting, Madam Sussana A. Adams, the Techiman Municipal Chief Environmental Officer said on June 17, this year a taskforce set up by the Assembly saw the convicts making locally-manufactured soap at Abourso and Onyinah in the Municipality.

She said chemicals which they were using for the manufacturing of the soap were poisonous which could also damage crops and pollute river bodies.

Madam Adams said when the convicts were asked about their operation licenses, they could not provide them and that led to their arrest.

She cautioned them and said it was against the Public Health Act, Act 851 of 2012, for anybody to do a health-related business without a license.

Prosecution said Environmental Health Unit of the Assembly in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had embarked on persistent public education on the Act in local communities but many of the people had failed to comply.

She said the Assembly had ordered all soap makers in the Municipality to relocate to a new site at Bamiri but the convicts failed to do so, adding that even though they were served with a mandatory notice they failed to comply.