CEPS intercepts vehicle with 1,000 bags of un-iodated salt

Takoradi, Aug.15 -GNA-A truck loaded with 1000 bags of un-iodated salt has been impounded by the Customs Exercise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and the Police at a barrier near Axim.

The vehicle with registration number GR3190 C was intercepted on Monday with the salt from Anlo-Afiadenyigba in the Volta Region and heading for Cote d'Ivoire.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Takoradi, Mr. George E. Pentsil, Western and Central Regional Zonal Officer of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) said the various security agencies have been educated and provided with testing kits to enable them detect iodised and un-iodated salt moving from one part of the country to another. "If any salt is found to be un-iodised, the vehicle and the owner of the product are detained until the proper iodisation is done before they are released," he added.

He said transportation of salt in any part of the country must be covered by a FDB permit to determine the nature and final usage of that particular salt.

Mr. Pentsil said without such a permit, the salt could be confiscated to the state or the owner would pay for the full cost of iodisation of the entire consignment before it was released. He stressed that such offenders were also required to pay fines depending on the cost of conveying the salt without the necessary FDB permit.

Mr. Pentsil said arrangements were ongoing to move the vehicle and its contents to Elmina for iodisation by Wednesday Aug. 16. He said the Ghana private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), CEPS, Police and other security agencies have been educated to be able to arrest and conduct random tests to determine the quality and wholesomeness of salt anywhere in the country. He said the various institutions have been provided with the necessary kits to make their operations easier and when such arrests are made, the FDB is informed for further action.