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‘Operating restaurant without Food Hygiene Permit unlawful’

Dr Edward Archer addressing the participants

Dr Edward Archer addressing the participants

The Chief Regulatory Officer at FDA,Dr Edward Archer hasurged food establishments across the country to regularise their activities with the authority.

He said securing a Food Hygiene Permit will help keep the industry in check when it comes to compliance and emphasised the need to put the safety of food consumers at the heart of the culinary service industry.

He said this in Accra last week at a workshop organised by Bolt Food in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority for some selected Food Service Establishments (FSEs).

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The workshop was aimed at educat­ing FSEs, using the bolt food plat­form on the FDA’s activity in ensur­ing food safety and also interact with them to know their challenges while helping to address them.

“Anybody who is operating a restau­rant or a food business without being issued a food hygiene permit is operat­ing unlawfully, he said

Dr Archer called on food vendors, hotels, restaurants and chop bar operators to secure the necessary documentations before rendering such services to the public, adding that the FDA was ready to collaborate and promote the safety of FSEs in the country.

Speaking to the media in an inter­view, the Regulatory and Policy Head for Africa, Weyinmi Aghadiuno said the collaboration between Bolt Food and the FDA was in the three parts.

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The parts,she said were partner­ships, workshops and safe food han­dling training for couriers, adding that Bolt had identified 20 FSEs that have their business registration permit but do not have FDA permits.

“These top 20 FSEs, bolt will work with FDA to sponsor their license acquisition and the technical support they require. This is our way of giving back to the society,”she added.

Ms Aghadiuno said Bolt will from hence forth ensure that FSEs on their platform have their FDA licens­es so as to put hygiene and safety first.

“We want to have that collaborative relationship with FDA and our FSEs; we want to build an ecosystem where we can proudly say that when you are ordering on bolt, you are assured that the FSEs on our platform have the FDA food licensing, safety and hygiene certificate,” Ms Aghadiuno added.

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She also stated that Bolt was in discussion with FDA to agree on a time frame so as to ensure that FSEs on their platform get their certificates and food license.

 By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu

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 Intake of ‘Gobe’ can prevent heart diseases —Nutritionists

Gari and beans is good for the heart
Gari and beans is good for the heart

Nutritionists have advised Ghanaians to eat more beans-based meals, including the popular local dish, gari and beans, also known as ‘Gobe’ to prevent heart diseases. They said incidenc­es of obesity and cancer could be minimised with the regular intake of beans meals.

At a programme in Accra to mark the World Pulses ( Beans) Day on Monday, Mr Wise Chukudi Letsa, Nu­tritionist and Dietician, who spoke on the topic: ‘Beans: The Super Food for Healthy Living and Healthy Farmlands,’ admonished Ghanaians to include beans in their diets.

Mr Letsa said beans was rich in protein, fibre, vitamins, miner­als, irons and other nutrients and contained just a little fat. Mr Letsa, a Nutritionist with Lets Consult, stated that the presence of those nutrients in beans explained why its intake could prevent heart diseases and other ailments, hence the need to consume it regularly.

The event, dubbed: ‘Meatless Monday’ was organised by the Com­munications Initiative for Change (CIC), a Ghanaian non-profit organ­isation.

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The ‘Meatless Monday’ is an initiative aimed at encouraging Ghanaians to reduce their intake of meat by taking in more beans-based meals on every Monday of a week.

It was launched after the United Nations in 2019, set aside Febru­ary 10 to celebrate and encourage the consumption of pulses (beans) worldwide. This year’s celebration was hinged on the theme: ‘Bringing Diversity to Agrifood Systems.’

Mr Peter Agbovi, National Secre­tary, Chefs Association of Ghana, said a variety of meals could be prepared with beans, which include Waakye (rice and beans), Kose (beans paste made into cakes), Ayikple, Aboboi, Tuo Zaafi, Akyeke, and kakro.

He encouraged Ghanaians to con­sume more of those foods to stay healthy.

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Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, the Ex­ecutive Director, CIC, indicated that even if people could not eat beans-based meals regularly, efforts should be made to consume them every Monday.

He said that was the essence of the introduction of the ‘Meatless Monday’ initiative. -GNA

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 Restore beauty of Kwame Nkrumah Circle area / State of Kwame Nkrumah Circle an eyesore!

A homeless man sleeping in the sand close to the removed blocks
A homeless man sleeping in the sand close to the removed blocks

Small size quarry stones fixed at open spac­es under the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange was to leave the place open and free from activities of beggars and other activities of the homeless.

By the way the stones were fixed, it makes the area, particularly the VIP and Neoplan Station stretch of the Interchange, inhabit­able by the destitute.

But a walk through the area currently suggest the opposite.

At the median where pavement blocks have been taken over by these home­less and destitute, the area has been turned into a hotel where a number of these unfortunate ones have com­fortably laid their mattress­es and other stuff to rest from the day’s activities.

They have crossed over to the SSNIT and Kaneshie Station area with their activ­ities and have removed the quarry stones which were to ward them off the place to enable them find spaces to sleep comfortably.

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The pavement blocks re­moved from different loca­tions under the interchange now serves as foundations on which beds were laid and in some cases, mosquito nets erected.

Their continued pres­ence is not only creating a nuisance for commuters but marring the beauty and serenity of the place.

Sadly, the activities of these deprived fellows have been ignored while the numbers keep increasing day by day.

The Spectator finds the development very worrying and calls on the responsible authorities to clear the area to restore the beauty and serenity of the area.

 By Victor A. Buxton

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