Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has expanded its nationwide food safety campaign to Kumasi Wesley Girls’ Senior High School in the Ashanti Region, prioritizing youth education to combat foodborne diseases.
Partnering with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the initiative adopts a year-round approach beyond World Food Safety Day (June 7), targeting regions with high vulnerability to contamination.
FDA Director of Food Safety and Consumer Education, Mrs. Faustina Atupra, emphasized practical measures: “70% of foodborne illnesses stem from handlers. Proper hygiene—like handwashing and clean utensils—can prevent most cases.” The campaign, already active in Upper East and Upper West Regions, next targets Western and Central Regions.
Students learned critical practices: avoiding unhygienic street food, thorough produce washing, and safe storage. “I’ll educate my siblings too,” pledged one attendee, reflecting heightened awareness. The push responds to 420,000+ foodborne disease cases recorded in 2023, with diarrheal illnesses dominating child outpatient visits.
Outreach includes training market vendors and plans to scale to more schools and food hubs under the theme “Food Safety: Science in Action.”
