Ghana has launched a five-year national plan to reduce exposure to toxic heavy metals in food and strengthen the country’s food safety system.
The National Strategic Plan for Heavy Metals Reduction in Food (2026–2030) targets contaminants including lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic, which can enter the food chain through environmental pollution, agricultural practices, food processing and packaging.
Children and pregnant women are considered particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of heavy-metal exposure.
Launching the plan, Deputy Minister for Health, Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, said food safety was critical to protecting public health and supporting national development.
She said reducing contamination would also improve consumer confidence, strengthen the food industry and enhance the competitiveness of Ghanaian products on domestic and international markets.
The plan provides a coordinated framework for improving food safety regulation, surveillance and laboratory capacity, while strengthening industry compliance, research and public education.
Prof. Ayensu-Danquah called for stronger coordination and accountability among institutions responsible for food safety and urged stakeholders to support the implementation of the five-year strategy.
She also commended UNICEF for its technical and financial support towards the development of the plan.
The Deputy Chief Executive of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Roderick Daddey-Adjei, said the strategy was developed through extensive stakeholder consultations.
He disclosed that the FDA, with support from UNICEF, had also generated evidence on heavy-metal contamination in selected food products, providing a basis for targeted interventions.
The launch brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health, FDA, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana Standards Authority, Minerals Commission, UNICEF, academia, industry and civil society.
The stakeholders are expected to work together to implement the plan and reduce heavy-metal contamination across Ghana’s food system.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
