GFDD requested to publish list of unwholesome goods

The Ghana Food and Drugs Board (GFDB) has been requested to publish a list of banned brands of corned beef and other imported unwholesome goods into the country in order to protect the health of consumers.

Mr Yaw Adjei-Duffuor, the Brong-Ahafo Deputy Regional Minister, who made the call in Sunyani, advised the public to desist from patronising harmful goods including those with expired dates.

He was speaking at a day's seminar organised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry for officials from the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, the GSVB, an inspection company, importers and exporters in the region.

The seminar was aimed at educating participants on how best to protect consumers' interest and on the directive requiring importers to ensure that their suppliers bore serial numbers of import declaration forms.

Mr Adjei-Duffuor said though the ministry had placed a temporary ban on the importation of beef products, some people managed to bring those items into the country through unapproved routes from Togo and La Cote d'Ivoire.

Mr Adjei-Duffuor said the ban was necessitated by the outbreak of mad cow disease in Europe, where most of the products came from.

He called on individuals, the public, security agencies and the Ghana Standards Board to assist the GFDB to rid the market of unwholesome goods.

Mr Adjei-Duffuor appealed to importers not to invade taxes and custom duties but to pay them regularly to enable the government to generate enough revenue for national development.

Mr George E. Alorsor, Chairman of the Public Education Sub-committee on the Destination Inspection Scheme, said the body had facilitated business transactions in the country.