The Western Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority, FDA in partnership with the Environmental Health Department of the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly (EKMA) as well as the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, (STMA) is set to operationalize the Street Food Vending Permit Scheme in the region.
The event which was launched in Accra and some parts of the country is geared towards ensuring the well-being of every individual in the country.
Speaking in an interview with the media, a senior regulatory officer at the FDA, Francis Odoom, said it is the mandate of the FDA ensure that all food vendors are licensed and regulated to prevent issues relating to unhygienic preparation of food or consumables to ensure food safety.
He explained that for a person to be part of the scheme, he or she must first be certified as fit after a medical examination in order to attain the food handler’s certificate.
The food handler’s certificate is then used to fill out the membership form for the scheme which can be purchased online or at any of the FDA’s offices across the country.
“All food vendors must be certified to handle food which is done by the Environmental Health. When the food handlers certificate is handled over, then the vendor can no pick a form on our website or at any of regional offices at a fee of GH¢ 10.00, ” he said.
Mr. Odoom noted that before the permit is granted, his outfit embarks on an exercise to ensure raw materials being used for food products are in good condition, workers in good standing, and food processed or prepared are under hygienic conditions.
Mr. Francis Odoom again urged all food vendors to take advantage of the scheme to ensure food safety which is a necessary prerequisite for avoiding the outbreak of diseases.
