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Meat Singed with car tyres dangerous
A joint study by the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, have revealed alarming presence of cancer-causing substances in meats singed with car tyres.
Singed meats are meats that have been treated with heat to remove hair, shrink the skin, and make it appear clean.
The study revealed that meats singed with car tyres in Ghana contain high levels of harmful chemicals called Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).
These chemicals can increase the risk of cancer.
The study led by Prosper Manu Abdulai from the University of Port Harcourt tested meats singed with fuel sources such as car tyres, firewood, and LPG gas in Ghana’s five largest cities – Kumasi, Accra, Koforidua, Tamale, and Ho.
A statement issued by Dr Daniel Norris Berkoe, University Relations Officer, KNUST, indicated that researchers collected 180 samples of cattle and goat meat, singed using three different fuel types: firewood, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and car tyres.
They found out that meats singed with car tyres had the highest levels of PAHs, especially, a dangerous chemical called Benzoapyrene.
Children and the aged are more at risk from these chemicals.
“We did a health risk assessment, and we realised that kids and adults who take this meat whether signed with firewood or tyre are at serious risk of getting cancer,” the statement revealed.
The study recommended the use of safer methods like LPG for singeing meat, especially at abattoirs and calls for stricter rules to prevent the use of tyres.
This is especially concerning, as the levels of this harmful substance in tyre-singed meats exceeded regulatory limits set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The researchers called for an urgent need to explore and promote alternative singeing methods that minimise PAH formation.
LPG, which demonstrated the lowest PAH levels among the tested fuels, could be recommended as a safer alternative to traditional fuels like firewood and car tyres.
The study advocated stricter regulations regarding the use of car tyres for meat singeing, urging authorities to impose heavy penalties for non-compliance to protect public health and ensure that consumers were not exposed to harmful substances. —GNA
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Kingdom of Belgium as part of efforts to restore the country’s economic stability after the financial crisis that hit the nation in 2022 and 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, today disclosed that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana experienced a very difficult period during the crisis, which forced the government at the time to declare a debt default.
However, he indicated that the country is now recovering and witnessing a significant economic turnaround.
According to him, stronger systems are also being put in place to ensure that Ghana does not return to such a situation again.
Dr Forson noted that the agreement with Belgium is the eighth deal Ghana has concluded with countries under the Official Creditor Committee as part of its external debt restructuring programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its support and partnership with Ghana during the process.
The Finance Minister thanked Carole van Eyll, Ambassador of Belgium to Ghana, for her role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to restructure its external debts and stabilise the economy following the crisis.
By: Jacob Aggrey
