Ashaiman court convicts Chinese company, others for flouting sanitation regulations

The Ashaiman Circuit Court presided over by His honour Justice Gabriel Martey Teye has convicted GS International trading company, a Chinese company and four residents of Ashaiman to the fine of GH¢ 5,140 for committing various environmental and sanitation offences.

The culprits admitted guilt and were subsequently charged for the offence.

The GS International Trading company which is located around Ashaiman Timber market was alleged to have turned a dumping site at the premises of the company into a place of convenience by some of the employees.

The Deputy Managing Director of the company Winston Shi, who represented the company in court admitted the offence and was fined 180 penalty units representing GH¢2,160. The rest were Hajia Kande; a food vendor at Asenso Bar, Rauf Dauda, Cephas Tetteh; a ground nut miller and Michael Hayibor also a food vendor.

They were fined GH¢ 1,020, GH¢ 1,020, G GH¢960 and GH¢ 1,200 respectively.

Hajia Kande was found guilty for preparing food meant for the public consumption under insanitary condition contrary to section 56 of subsection (b ) of Public Health Act 2012 Act 851 while, Rauf Dauda was found guilty for allowing waste to be dumped at an unauthorized place.

On the other hand, Cephas Tetteh and Michael Hayibor were found guilty for operating ground nut mill under insanitary conditions and selling in an insanitary environment respectively.

Speaking in an interview with Oman FM, the Head of prosecution at the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, Mr Kartey George, said his outfit will go after all food vendors who are operating under insanitary conditions in the Ashaiman municipality.

“What we have realized is that those food vendors we have prosecuted go back and keep their business operating areas clean …so once we have seen that the law can reform them we will continue to prosecute the recalcitrant ones,”he stated.

Mr Kartey George said his outfit is currently visiting food joints to educate them on the need to ensure cleaner environment so that there will be food safety in the municipality.

According to him, the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly has over 4000 food vendors.

Story By: Michael Creg Afful

#Latestinghana #Headlinesnews #News