A total of 251 food handlers in Ghana's Upper West Region have health conditions. These conditions mean they cannot safely handle food. This discovery raises significant public health concerns in the region.
The figures come from health screenings performed in 2025 and the first five months of 2026. Agambire Alhassan Inusah, an officer with the Regional Environmental Health and Sanitation Department, shared this information. Over 538 food handlers were screened in 2025. More than 1,200 were screened by May 2026. Affected individuals are sent for medical treatment. The department is increasing its work on food safety. They inspect food and drink sellers more often. They also take sanitation offenders to court.
This situation highlights challenges in maintaining high food safety standards in Ghana. Reports from the Ghana Statistical Service often show that rising food prices contribute to inflation. Similar public health and sanitation issues can affect rural economies. In 2025, 3,425 premises were inspected. In the first five months of 2026, 4,821 premises were checked. Inspections of food and drink places also went up. They rose from 742 in 2025 to 891 in early 2026.
Mr. Inusah also reported on meat safety. Nearly 4,000 animals were inspected from 2025 to May 2026. This was a joint effort with the Food and Drugs Authority. Most meat was found fit for eating. However, four animals were condemned completely. Another 51 were partly condemned for health reasons. The department faces staff shortages. This limits its ability to deliver services effectively.
Madam Freda Naatu, the Regional Director of EHSD, noted the difficulty. It is hard to stop people with health issues from continuing to handle food. She plans to introduce a "sanitation league table." This will rank schools and local government areas by their sanitation performance. High performers will get awards. Poor performers will be publicly named.
The findings have implications for consumer confidence and public health budgets. Ensuring food handlers are healthy is crucial for preventing foodborne illnesses. This can strain healthcare systems. The government may need to allocate more resources for health screenings and public awareness campaigns. Stricter enforcement and support for affected handlers will be key. The upcoming period will show if these interventions improve safety across the Upper West Region.