Editorial
Alarming lead content in metal cookware is wake-up call
High amounts of lead contamination have been reported in ceramic and metal cookware, children’s toys, and cosmetics, all of which offer major health concerns to humans, particularly women and children.
This follows a study conducted by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and Pure Earth that revealed lead could contaminate food when cooked in metal cookware, particularly locally produced aluminum cookware known as “dadesen.”
Lead is a dangerous heavy metal that can affect children’s development permanently, specifically their behaviour and intellectual capacity.
The study, which included three ecological zones of the nation, found that youngsters in the study regions of Greater Accra and the Northern Regions were frequently exposed to and poisoned by lead.
During a press conference in Accra, it was disclosed that significant levels of lead were discovered in 77 percent of the pots examined.
It also showed that there was a lead contamination rate of 55 percent in metal cookware, 18 percent in ceramic cookware, 14 percent in children’s toys, and seven percent in cosmetics (local mascara), despite the fact that 93 percent of mothers in the Northern Region used the traditional eyeliner, “chilo.”
No one is safe because we all eat from metallic cookware, thus this is a significant issue that needs to be addressed right away. Since there is a very high exposure to lead when using these metallic cookware, it has been proven that eating from them puts people at risk for lead poisoning.
When lead exposure levels are high and permanent, it can have a severe impact on children’s intelligence and lead to anaemia.
In addition, extended lead exposure may cause high Blood Pressure (BP), heart disease, kidney disease, and decreased fertility.
This is an urgent public health issue that needs to be addressed, especially because women and children are at risk.
Because lead poisoning has negative effects on the developing baby’s brain and nervous system and leads to learning and other behavioural issues, pregnant women and young children are more susceptible to it.
Therefore, the government must take the required actions to set up safeguards for the citizens’ health.
It is encouraging that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as a result of the study, is supporting a lead prevention and reduction policy for the nation to reduce the use of lead in order to protect the environment, as stated by the EPA’s Executive Director, Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu.
He says that to develop lead prevention and reduction policy for Ghana, a high-level multi-sectoral ministerial committee made up of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), Ministry of Health (MoH), and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) may be established with assistance from Pure Earth and UNICEF.
It is also reassuring to know that the Agency will work with other regulators to develop the necessary standards for lead concentration in conventional aluminum cookware as well as the action plan on lead prevention and reduction. These regulators include the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), and others.
The EPA is taking steps to make sure that harmful production methods used in artisanal and informal recycling activities are restricted.
The Spectator applauds the EPA’s suggestions and calls on manufacturers to adhere to the rules in order to protect consumer safety.
We also hope that the government will give medical personnel the resources they need to inform the public about the risks associated with lead exposure.
In addition to the severe flooding that Accra is already experiencing a major sanitation crisis is imminent as the Kpone dump approaches closure.
Currently, there are now just two significant disposal sites in the area: the Adepa dumpsite in the Ga West Municipal Assembly, which is close to Amasaman, and the Kpone Waste Landfill.
Inquiries so far, revealed that the Kpone site is almost at capacity and will likely close in the next six months. As a result, waste is accumulating at local markets and municipal collection points throughout the capital.
The situation has been made worse by the recent terrible floods, and immediate action is required to prevent the impending crisis.
The fundamental issue is that accumulating uncollected waste during rainy seasons poses significant threats to public health, including the possibility of cholera, typhoid, and malaria outbreaks.
Subsequent investigations showed that the Kpone plant, which was initially built to manage 500 tonnes of waste per day, has been handling almost twice that much, shortening its lifespan.
Many towns’ waste collection operations have been badly impacted by this looming shutdown, and the fact that Accra has few disposal choices is even more disturbing.
Now, waste collection vehicles face abnormally long queues at the Kpone site, and residents complain that most of the tricycles, referred to as “Aboboyaa,” leave rubbish uncollected in residential and commercial areas.
Although the Zoompak waste transfer station was authorised by the government to reopen in order to help manage daily waste volumes, it is still unable to handle the enormous volumes of waste generated every day.
According to Dr. Peter Kwesi Dagadu, Managing Director of the Landfills Company Limited, managing the capital’s expanding waste burden has become extremely difficult due to the scarcity of disposal facilities, especially in light of the city’s fast population increase and rising waste production.
As a result, the situation has put a great deal of strain on the infrastructure already in place and jeopardizes attempts to keep Accra’s waste management system sustainable and effective.
The Spectator agrees with him that new infrastructure for disposing of waste is desperately needed, as a change to a more environmentally friendly waste management techniques.
It is admirable that he suggests Ghana adopt recycling and garbage recovery as a long-term solution to the nation’s sanitation problems.
We therefore, implore the government to support this recycling objective by enacting strict laws, regulations, investments, and enforcement measures to enhance waste management nationwide.
In order to address the waste problem as quickly as possible, everyone must be involved, including private waste management companies, individuals, and households.
Dear Editor,
I wish to express concern over the allegations that some officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) demanded money from players before they are selected for national teams.
If these allegations are true, then, they threaten fairness and integrity in Ghana football.
Just as is done in other countries, selection into any national team should be based solely on merit -talent, discipline, hard work and performance, not on a player’s ability to pay money.
Such practices, if allowed to continue, will discourage many talented but less privileged players from pursuing their dreams. It will also damage the reputation of the GFA and reduce public confidence in the country’s football administration.
Those reports are quite unfortunate but some of us want to believe in the response issued by the FA but would also advise the GFA to conduct some investigation, because like it is often said, there is no smoke without fire.
If it means an individual is going about making such demands on the blind side of the FA, such an investigation can expose the person.
I therefore urge the GFA to investigate these allegations thoroughly and transparently. Any official found guilty should face the appropriate sanctions. At the same time, individuals making the allegations should provide credible evidence so the truth can be established.
Ghanaian football belongs to all of us, and we must protect its integrity by ensuring that merit, transparency and accountability guide player selection.
From John Boateng,
Mamprobi
