The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has confiscated quantities of fish being processed under unhygienic conditions after a viral video exposed individuals handling smoked and salted fish in what the Authority described as an unsafe environment.
In a statement issued yesterday, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, the FDA said it acted swiftly after being alerted to the video, deploying a rapid response team to the site on Monday, July 27, to investigate the incident.
In years past, the Authority was very proactive with market inspections that led to arrests and the seizure of expired, unwholesome foods, medicines, and other consumables, including imported meat products. It was ready to take on board reports through its hotline and other means of communication and act on them. However, that resolve has been missing in recent years.
The team, comprising officials from the FDA, the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and the Ghana Police Service, assessed the situation and took immediate steps to protect public health and ensure food safety.
“As part of the intervention, the fish exposed to unhygienic conditions were confiscated,” the Authority said, adding that the fish processors were also educated on the health risks associated with poor handling and processing practices.
“On sighting the recent viral video, a rapid response team from the FDA was dispatched to the scene on Monday, 27th July, in collaboration with the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and the Ghana Police Service,” the statement said.
The FDA noted that similar incidents had occurred in the past and said it has consistently collaborated with relevant institutions to curb such practices and safeguard consumers from unsafe food products.
The Authority said it is continuing its public education campaign to promote safe and hygienic fish processing methods across the country.
It further announced plans to engage fish processors and fishmongers in identified coastal districts on proper hygiene and food safety practices to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
The FDA also appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected unsafe food handling practices to the appropriate authorities to help protect public health.
Meanwhile, a confrontation broke out between officials of the Tema East Sub-Metro and some fishmongers during a demolition exercise at a fishmongering and fish drying site in Tema Newtown on Tuesday, July 28.
The operation, undertaken as part of efforts to improve sanitation along the shoreline, also led to the arrest of several individuals allegedly engaging in open defecation at the site.
According to the Tema East Sub-Metro, the demolition was prompted by deteriorating sanitary conditions at the fish processing area, where fish were reportedly being dried close to refuse dumps and locations used for open defecation, posing serious public health risks.
Authorities said the exercise forms part of an ongoing clean-up campaign aimed at restoring acceptable sanitation standards and creating a safer and healthier environment for fishmongering and fish drying activities.
Speaking to Citi News, the Chairman of the Tema East Sub-Metro said fishmongers had been given adequate notice before the exercise was carried out.
He explained that the intervention had become necessary because of the worsening sanitary conditions and the associated health hazards.
“The work they do is important, but the environment is not conducive. They were duly notified. The area must be cleaned before they can resume their business. The demolition is intended to pave the way for a major clean-up exercise,” he said.
However, the operation was met with resistance from some fishmongers, resulting in confrontations with officials.
The traders appealed to the authorities to allow them sufficient time to retrieve their fish and other belongings before the demolition exercise continued.
