Sachet water producer fined for poor sanitation

The Ada Magistrate court presided over by Mr Jonathan Avogo has fined Charles Agbeve and Nicolas Ahuahey, owner and manager of Alive Drinking Water Company respectively, GH¢600.00 for producing sachet water under unhygienic and insanitary conditions.

Charles Agbeve and his accomplice would be jailed for three months with hard labour if they fail to pay the fine.

The facts presented to the court by the prosecutor, Mr. Emmanuel Eric Kotoku, stated that the accused persons were producing sachet water at Koluedor within the Ada West District.

Following recent outbreak of cholera, the District Environmental and Sanitation officers intensified their educational activities by organizing series of workshops for identifiable groups.

According to the prosecutor, the sachet water producers were also educated on their business.

As part of a follow up inspection on September 25, 2014, the inspectors found out that the company was producing under unhygienic and insanitary conditions.

There were pools and accumulation of offensive water with algae growth around the sources of water to the production room and accumulation of refuse in an open container in the production room.

The Prosecutor said the inspectors also discovered that the four producers and sales staffs were not screened and certificated.

The production machine was dirty and not cleaned, and also the workers were not wearing protective clothing.

The prosecutor stated that further inspection also revealed that the company did not have a valid Food and Drugs Board Certification and neither did it have that of the Ghana Standard Authority.

The two were sentenced on their own plea of guilt.