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Food safety: 251 food handlers diagnosed with health conditions
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A total of 251 food handlers in the Upper West Region have been diagnosed with health conditions that render them unfit to handle food, raising public health and food safety concerns in the region.
A regional sanitation situation report revealed that the figure emerged from health screenings conducted on food handlers in 2025 and 2026.
Mr Agambire Alhassan Inusah, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the Upper West Regional Environmental Health and Sanitation Department (EHSD), presented the report at the second quarter meeting of the Upper West Regional Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee on Sanitation (RICCS) in Wa.
According to the report, 538 food handlers were screened in 2025, while 1,208 were screened between January and May 2026.
Mr Inusah said the affected individuals were referred to health facilities for treatment.
He added that the department had intensified food safety and sanitation interventions across the region, including inspections of food and drink vendors and prosecution of sanitation offenders.
A total of 3,425 premises were inspected in 2025, while 4,821 premises were inspected between January and May 2026.
Inspections of food and drink establishments also increased from 742 in 2025 to 891 within the first five months of 2026.
On meat safety, Mr Inusah said 3,928 animals slaughtered during the review period were inspected by the department in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Veterinary Services Department.
Out of these, 3,873 carcasses were certified fit for human consumption, while four were totally condemned and 51 partially condemned due to health concerns.
On the Open Defecation Free (ODF) campaign, he noted that three communities attained ODF status in 2025, comprising two in the Lambussie District and one in the Sissala West District.
He added that 15 communities achieved ODF status between January and May 2026, including nine in the Nandom District and six in the Lambussie District.
On enforcement, he stated that the Wa Municipal Assembly prosecuted four sanitation-related cases during the period and imposed fines on offenders as part of efforts to improve environmental sanitation.
Mr Inusah, however, noted that despite the commitment of environmental health officers, inadequate staff capacity remained a major challenge affecting service delivery.
Reacting to the report on food vendor screenings, the Upper West Regional Director of the EHSD, Madam Freda Naatu, said it had in some instances been difficult to stop affected persons from continuing to handle food.
She announced plans to introduce sanitation league tables for schools and zonal councils to assess performance, reward high-performing institutions, and “name and shame” underperforming ones. –GNA
The Accra Regional Police Command has arrested former professional boxer Michael Ayitey Okai, popularly known as “Ayitey Powers,” over an alleged threat of death against the Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Yaw Ampofo.
According to the Police, the 46-year-old former boxer was arrested on Monday, August 24, 2026, in connection with the alleged threat.
The Police said the arrest followed a video circulating on social media in which Ayitey Powers is alleged to have issued the threat against Mr Ampofo.
He is currently in Police custody and is assisting with investigations.
The Accra Regional Police Command said investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged threat and determine the appropriate action to be taken in accordance with the law.
The Command has urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified information about the matter while the investigation continues.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo Markin has sued the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, and Multimedia Group Limited over alleged defamatory comments made against him on the Newsfile programme.
In a writ filed at the High Court in Accra, Mr Afenyo Markin is seeking GH¢15 million in damages, an apology and retraction of the statements, among other reliefs.
The suit follows comments allegedly made by Mr Gyamfi during the Saturday, August 22, 2026 edition of Newsfile, hosted by Samson Lardy Anyenini.
According to the statement of claim, Mr Gyamfi described Mr Afenyo Markin as an “extortionist” while responding to a question about GoldBod’s reported profits and its position on losses arising from its operations.
The plaintiff claims that Mr Gyamfi repeated the allegation when the host sought clarification on whether he stood by the description.
Mr Afenyo Markin further claims that Mr Gyamfi challenged him to sue him and insisted that the allegation was true.
The plaintiff argues that the statements created the impression that he engages in extortion, uses his political influence to put improper pressure on public institutions and officials, and conducts himself in a manner inconsistent with the standards expected of a lawyer and public office holder.
He denies the allegations and maintains that he is not an extortionist and has never engaged in the conduct alleged by Mr Gyamfi.
The Minority Leader also argues that the comments were made maliciously and were presented as facts without evidence being disclosed.
He claims the statements have damaged his reputation, professional standing and public image, particularly because of his position as a senior political figure and legal practitioner.
The suit also names Multimedia Group Limited as a defendant because, according to the plaintiff, the alleged defamatory comments were broadcast through JoyNews and subsequently circulated on social media platforms, including X, Facebook and YouTube.
Mr Afenyo Markin claims Multimedia failed to stop the comments or deactivate Mr Gyamfi’s microphone after the allegations were made.
He is therefore asking the court to award him general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as GH¢15 million in compensation and legal costs.
He is also seeking an order compelling the defendants to issue a full, unconditional and unequivocal retraction and public apology.
The plaintiff wants the apology and retraction to be given similar prominence and reach as the original publication, including through JoyNews and the social media platforms where the comments were disseminated.
He is further seeking a permanent injunction preventing the defendants from repeating the alleged defamatory statements or words with a similar meaning.
The writ requires the defendants to enter an appearance within eight days after being served.
It warns that failure to do so could result in judgment being entered in their absence.
The case was filed by lawyer Paa Kwesi Abaidoo of Dehyena Chambers on behalf of Mr Afenyo Markin.
By: Jacob Aggrey
