By Frank Kwame Abbor, GNA
Ho, Aug. 21, GNA – Environmental health officers, officers of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and security personnel have retrieved suspected contaminated frozen poultry products allegedly dumped at Avakpeta, a farming area between Tsawenu and Sokode Ando in the Volta Region.
The products, comprising chicken drumsticks, wings, feet and other poultry parts, were reportedly discovered in the bush and had been taken by some residents for domestic consumption before authorities intervened.
According to some residents, the products had been dumped at the site since Tuesday, August 18, 2026, with authorities intervening today.
Reverend Lawrence Senya, Director of the Municipal Environmental Health Office (MEHO), said the authorities received intelligence about the indiscriminate dumping and immediately mobilised a team to the area to investigate and prevent further consumption of the products.
He said some residents had already processed the poultry into soups, roasted or smoked them, and used them to prepare other foods after finding the products frozen and without any noticeable foul odour.
“We want to caution everybody against consuming any of these poultry products until investigations have been concluded,” Rev. Senya told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), adding that the products could potentially contain toxins or other harmful substances.
Mr Gameli Goka, Regulatory Officer of the FDA, said the agency received a distress call from the Regional Environmental Health Office and deployed officers to support the investigation and recovery exercise.
He said samples had been collected for laboratory analysis, while photographs and other information had been gathered to help determine the nature and source of the products.
“At the moment, we don’t know who brought them here, but we are working together with the BNI to get to the bottom of the issue,” he said.
Mr Wilson Kodzo Akorli, Assembly Member of Sokode Ando Electoral Area, appealed to residents who might still have the products or food prepared with them to dispose of them immediately and urged the community to assist authorities in identifying those responsible for the dumping.
The retrieved poultry products were subsequently safely buried in collaboration with the relevant department, while investigations continued to establish who dumped them and why.
Authorities also urged poultry wholesalers, retailers and cold-store operators to notify Environmental Health Officers before disposing of expired or unwanted food products to ensure safe and sanitary disposal.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah