Despite the ban on the importation and the sale of turkey tail, popularly called “chofi,” business of this product is tremendously booming across the length and breadth of Ghana. If you care to know, Accra, Suhum, and Nsawam are the ‘Kantamanto’ of chofi sale.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry in 1999 issued a communiqué to all importers to the effect that total fat content of poultry and poultry products above 15 percent were not to be imported into the country. In a quick support of this, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture also stopped issuing permits for its importation.
However, the fatty meat despite its ban has become a-take-home-cake to friends and relatives whenever one goes to these areas or passes by. It is normally eaten with fried yam and shito (pepper). It is sometimes used as a substitute for butter in bread.
The business of turkey tail, as its generic name indicates, has been a lucrative venture for the people of Suhum and Nsawam and particularly Accra. Sometimes, I wonder if there can be an alternative source of livelihood for them.
This reporter hit the town of Suhum at 8:15pm and I am on the streets of Suhum. On one shoulder of the road, a young woman, whom I believe to be in her early 30s, slightly bends over the mouth of a frying pan to scoop out pieces of yam that dangles in a pool of oil. I can count about ten customers that haggardly stand; waiting patiently, like camels to be loaded, to buy the fried yam with the popular meat. This tells the rate at which people patronize the fatty meat. Most foods on the market which are banned from its importation yet attract ‘bees’ rush patronage.
However, Mr. James Lartey, the head of communications of the Food and Drugs Authority disclosed in an interview that the law banning the importation of this product is still enforced, even though some are still smuggled into the country. He further noted that most of the poultry products are sneaked into the country by road from Togo, and other countries. ”Measures are still being put in place to bring the problem to a halt,” he concluded.
“Regardless of the potential health problems it could cause, especially when ‘crimsonly’ colored, flavored, fried and well packaged, it looked very attractive and had a good taste,” a consumer confessed to this reporter. “This has been one of the best meats that I have ever tasted,” another consumer added.
With the rate at which sellers of “chofi” is fast spreading in our society, accompanied with the skyrocketing taste of Ghanaians for the unhealthy meat, many still wonder if the law banning the importation and sale of “Chofi” is binding or a Childs’ play.
