We have recently witnessed a significant legal action taken against an individual in the Yilo Krobo municipality of the Eastern region. Francis Doku, a resident of Nkurakan, has been convicted by the Somanya Magistrate Court for the sale of expired food products.
The court, presided over by Derek Ocloo, has ordered Mr. Doku to pay a fine of 60 penalty units, amounting to GH¢720.00. This conviction stems from Mr. Doku's plea of guilty to the charges of selling expired food products, a violation of Section 19 of the Yilo Krobo Assembly general sanitation bye-law, 2022.
Martin Abotsi, the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly Environmental Health officer, provided insight into the case. He explained that on November 14, 2023, environmental health officers conducted an inspection of expired products in Nkurakan. During this inspection, it was discovered that Mr. Doku had displayed expired canned drinks for sale to the public.
Subsequently, the expired items were confiscated, and Mr. Doku was given an opportunity to explain the presence of these products in his shop. However, his failure to respond to this invitation led to legal action being taken against him.
Mr. Abotsi emphasized the severity of selling expired products for public consumption, highlighting the significant risk it poses to public health and the potential for food poisoning.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding regulations pertaining to food safety and sanitation. It also underscores the responsibility of all individuals involved in the production and sale of food products to adhere to these regulations in order to safeguard public health.
It is our hope that this conviction will serve as a deterrent to others who may consider engaging in similar practices, ultimately contributing to the protection of consumers and the preservation of public health within our municipality.
-source GNA | curated by Aisha Yakubu | Ghana Crimes
