The Tema East Sub-Metro Council has begun demolishing makeshift structures at the Tema Newtown fish processing and drying site to improve sanitation and food safety.
The exercise, carried out last Tuesday, was led by the Chairman of the Tema East Sub-Metro Council, Agabby Sumaila Adjetey, with support from officials of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), while the Ghana Police Service deployed personnel to provide security.
The operation followed concerns over the unhygienic conditions under which fish was being processed and dried, with some fish spread directly on the bare ground, posing potential public health risks.
Cleaner environment
Speaking during the exercise, Mr Adjetey said the assembly could no longer overlook the site's poor environmental conditions.
He explained that the fish processors had been notified of the planned exercise and invited to discussions before the demolition commenced.
According to him, the exercise formed part of plans to redevelop the area into a cleaner, better-organised fish-processing centre.
"We are going to prepare the area first before they resume business.
When the work is completed, the place will be properly demarcated and allocated to them so they can work in a clean and healthy environment," he said.
Mr Adjetey said the assembly intended to provide improved facilities, including containers and other infrastructure to enhance fish handling and processing while ensuring compliance with food safety standards.
Confiscated fish
During the operation, officials from the TMA confiscated quantities of processed fish being dried directly on the ground.
Some fish processors appealed to the authorities to suspend the demolition so they could evacuate their belongings. However, the exercise proceeded as scheduled.
Way forward
One of the affected fish processors, Gladys Koomson, admitted that hygiene practices at the site could be improved but expressed disappointment that the demolition was carried out before traders had sufficient time to remove their property.
She appealed to the assembly to engage the processors and provide adequate notice before undertaking similar exercises in the future.
Mrs Koomson said the women were prepared to work with the TMA to improve fish handling and processing practices to meet acceptable sanitation standards.
She expressed optimism that the planned redevelopment would provide a cleaner, safer and more organised environment that would support their livelihoods while safeguarding public health.
