DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 1  
 
  
DRAFT  – 31.05.2013   
 
 
 
 
 
 
NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY POLICY  
 
 
 
 
 
 
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA  
 
MINISTRY OF HEALTH  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS  
          Page No.  
Definitions ........................................................................... ...................   3 
List of Abbreviations ..................................................... ............. ............. . 6 
Foreword …………………………………………........……………….... ............. ............ .8 
Acknowledgments ........................................ .................. ............... ..........   9 
1.0 Introduction ………………………………………………………… .......... ..................  10 
2.0 Problem Statement on Food Safety in Ghana   ....................................  11 
2.1 Situational analysis. ...................... ................ ........................ .......  
 11 
2.2 Need for a National Food Safety Policy ......................................  
 22 
3.0 Policy context………………………………………….......... ................. ............... . 22 
3.1 International  and Regional legal context   ................... ................ . 22 
3.2 National legislative context ………………………………………………………..  25 
3.3 Existing Guidelines and policies touching on food safety .............  26 
4.0 National Food Safety Policy Statement ……………………………… ..…............  27 
4.1 Vision …….……………………………………………………………………… .............  27 
4.2 Goal  ....…………………………………………………………………………… .............  27 
4.3 Policy objectives ………………………………………………………………….. ........  27 
5.0 Guiding Principles ……………………………………………………………………. ...........  28 
6.0 Policy Measures  ……………………………………………………………………… ....... .... 29 
6.1 Food safe ty research  ......................................................................  29 
6.2 Food borne d isease surveillance  ....................................................  29 
6.3 Inspection and enforcement ....................................................... ... 29 DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 3 6.4 Food safety training ......................................................................  29 
6.5 Food safety public education .......................................................  30 
6.6 Consumer protection  ....................... ....................... .......................  30 
6.7 Regulatory and legislative control of food safety .........................  30 
6.8 Regional and International Representation ..................................  30 
7.0 Implementation framework/strategy ………………………………………………. . 30 
8.0 Institutiona l arrangement s for implementing the poli cy ...........……… ... 33 
8.1 National Coordinating body and implementation structures .......  34  
8.2 Role of various sectors in promoting food safety ............. ...........  34 
9.0 Monitoring and Evaluation  …………………………………………………… ........... ..
 39   
 
10.0 Funding Mechanism …… ..………………………………………………… ....... ....... 40  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 4  
DEFINITIONS  
In this National Food Safety Policy  the following words and phrases have the following 
meanings:  
Certification   Means the issuance of a document by an  authorized institution to 
attest, authenticate, or verify something.  
Certification bodies  Means bodies or institutions authorized by legislation to is sue 
certification documents .  
Codex Alimentarius  Means the standards, codes of practice, guidelines and 
recommendations issued by the Codex Alimentarius Commission . 
Coordination body  Means the body designated and mandated by legislation or this 
policy to coordinate food safety activities in Ghana . 
Drugs  Include a substance or mixture of substances prepared, s old or 
represented for use in (i) the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or 
prevention of disease, disorder or abnormal physical (or mental) 
state or the symptoms of it, in man or animal; or (ii) for restoring, 
correcting or modifying organic functions in ma n or animal; and 
(iii) nutritional supplements . 
Export    Means to take out of the Republic of Ghana .  
Food  Includes water, a food product, a live animal or a live plant, and 
includes:  
(a)  a substance or thing of a kind used, capable of being used or 
represe nted as being for use, for human or animal 
consumption, whether it is live, raw, prepared or partly 
prepared;  
(b) a substance or thing of a kind used, capable of being used or 
represented as being for use, as an ingredient or additive in a 
substance or a thin g referred to in paragraph (a)  
(c) a substance used in preparing a substance of a thing referred 
to in paragraph (a);  
(d) chewing gum or an ingredient or additive in chewing gum or 
a substance used in preparing chewing gum, and  
(e) a substance  or a thing declared by the Minister to be a food 
under section 146(3) of the Public Health Act.     DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 5 Foodborne disease monitoring  Means the performance and analysis of routine measurements 
aimed at detecting changes in the environment or health 
status of populations.  
Foodborne dis ease surveillance  Means the ongoing systematic collection, collation, analysis 
and interpretation of data followed by the dissemination of 
information to all those involved so that directed actions may  
be taken. The main objective of surveillance are outbr eak 
detection, monitoring trends in endemic disease, evaluating 
interventions and monitoring programme performance and 
progress towards a predetermined control objective.   
Health inspector  Means a person lawfully appointed to be a health inspector or 
a sanitary inspector under the Public Health Act.  
 
Institutional mechanisms  Means methods, strategies or devices developed, introduced 
and backed by recognized institutions .  
 
Inter -ministerial  Means between and among a number of ministries .  
 
Intra -ministeri al Means within individual ministries .  
 
Inter-agency  Means between and among a number of agencies .  
 
Intra -agency  Means within individual agencies .  
 
Import  Means to bring into the Republic of Ghana .  
 
Insanitary conditions  Means conditions or circumstanc es which might contaminate 
a product regulated under the Public Health Act with dirt or 
filth or might render the article injurious or dangerous to 
health.   
 
Manufacture  Includes the operations involved in the production, 
preparation, processing, compoundi ng, formulating, filling, 
refining, transformation, packing, packaging, re -packaging 
and labeling of products.   
 
Slaughter  facility  Means a slau ghterhouse, slaughter slab, abattoir and premises 
or a place habitually used for the slaughter of animals for 
human and animal consumption.  
 
 
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 6 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS  
ACT  - Act of Parliament  
AFTAR   - Africa Agriculture and Rural Development  
BNARI   - Biotechnology and Nuclear  Agricultural Institute  
CAC  - Codex Alimentarius Commission  
CAG   - Consumers Association of  Ghana  
CCAFRICA  - FAO/WHO Regional Coordi nating Committee for Africa  
CEPS   - Customs Excise and Preventive Service   
CSIR   - Council  for Scientific and Industrial Research  
GAEC   - Ghana Atomic Energy Commission  
GHS   - Ghana Health Service  
ECOWAS  - Economic Community for West Africa n States  
EHO   - Environmental Health Officers  
EIA  - Environmental Impact Assessment  
EPA  - Environmental Protection Agency  
EU  - European Union  
FAO   - Food and Agriculture Organisation  
FDA   - Food and Drugs Authority  
FDB  - Food and Drugs Board  
FSMS   - Food Safety Management Systems  
GEPA  - Ghana Export Promotion Authority  
GPRS   - Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy  
GSA   - Ghana Standards Authority  
GTA   - Ghana Tourism Authority  
IPPC   - International Plant Protection Convention  
ISO  - International Organisation  for Standardisation  
IUCN   - International Union for Conservation of Nature  
KNUST   - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology  
L.I.  - Legislative Instrument  
MDA s  - Ministries, Departments and Agencies  
MEST   - Ministr y of Environment Science and Technology  
MLGRD  - Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development  
MMDAs  - Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies  
MOE   - Ministry of Education  
MOFA   - Ministry of Food and Agriculture  
MOFEP   -  Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning  
MOH  - Ministry of Health  
MOTI  - Ministry of Trade and Industry  
NCCs   - National Codex Committees  
NEP  - National Enquiry Point  
NEPAD   - New Partnership for African Development  
NGO   -  Non -Governmental Organisation  
NPPO   - National Plant Protection Organisation  DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 7 NRCD   - National Redemption Council Decree  
OIE  - Office International des Epizoties (World Animal  Health Organization)  
PNDCL   - Peoples National Defence Council Law  
PPRSD   - Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorat e 
RPPO   - Regional Plant Protection Organization  
SPEG   - Sea Freight Pineapple Exporters of Ghana  
SPS  - Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  
UCC  - University of Cape Coast  
UDS   - University of Development Studies  
VSD  - Veterinary Service Directorate  
WHO   - World Health Organisation  
WIAD   - Women in Agricultural Development  
WTO   -  World Trade Organisation  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 8 FOREWORD  
 
Food safety has been described as protecting the food supply from microbial, chemical and physical 
hazards t hat may occur during all stages of food production, including growing, harvesting, processing, 
transporting, retailing, distributing, preparing, storing and consumption. When food safety systems are 
well developed,  they contribute to improved public health , increased access to food trade, reduction of 
poverty, increased food security and the protection of the environment . 
 
There is increasing global interest in the safety of foods available for consumption. This interest is 
heightened when the food is inten ded for the market , both local and export. To address these concerns, 
national and international strategies have been put in place to provide the requisite information, standards 
and regulations to ensure that consumers get the best value for health and nu trition.  
 
The Government of Ghana has not been left out of this increasing awareness, with the public and private 
sectors as well as international agencies showing support and commitment to improve the food safety 
situation in the country. There have been  a multiplicity of programmes instituted by key actors and 
institutions who contribute to ensuring that the quality of foods consumed by Ghanaians are safe and 
contribute to health and nutrition. These programmes and actions are so far not driven by any un iform 
national food safety policy to allow effective coordination and evaluation through the value chain. It has 
therefore been realised that there is the urgent need to develop a national food safety policy for Ghana.  
 
The Ministry of Health (MOH) in col laboration with relevant Ministries, Departments, Agencies 
(including the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Trade and Industries, Ministry of 
Environment, Science and Technology, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Ministry 
of Education, National Development Planning Commission) and other partners ha ve prepared this Food 
Safety Policy for Ghana with the ultimate aim of establishing and maintaining an integrated farm to fork 
food safety system that ensures consumer health  and pub lic safety.    
 
The basis of this policy was a situation analysis report titled “Food Safety in Ghana – A Situational 
Analysis.” The specific objectives of the assessment were to analyze the food safety situation in Ghana 
and make recommendations for the d evelopment of a National Food Safety Policy taking into account 
current and previous initiatives and programmes. The Situational Analysis report was validated by 
stakeholders at a couple of workshops. The policy has also been produced through a consultativ e process 
which included a stakeholder policy formulation workshop.   
 
The adoption and implementation of this National Food Safety Policy is expected to  reduce the burden of 
food borne diseases in the country. The National Food Safety Policy will also pr ovide a basis for the 
establishment of National Food Safety objectives, requirements and guidance for application to specific 
sectors of the food chain, that is, “from farm to fork. ” Through the adoption and promulgation of this 
Policy, the Government of G hana reaffirms its commitment to fulfilling the constitutional obligation of 
ensuring safer and better nutrition for its population.  
 
MINISTER FOR HEALTH,  
ACCRA, OCTOBER, 2012  
 
 
 
 
 
 DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 9 AKNOWLEDGEMENT S 
 
The National Food Safety Policy document was made possi ble through the contributions and 
support of several institutions and individuals.  
 
The Ministry acknowledges with gratitude the contribution of the Technical Task Team that 
worked with the Consultants to prepare the report titled “Food Safety in Ghana – A Situational 
Analysis ”, which formed the basis for the preparation of this Food Safety Policy.  
 
Gratitude and thanks go to the members of the National Food Safety Policy Drafting Committee 
that worked with Consultants in the preparation of this policy doc ument. They included the 
following: Ms. Esi Amoaful, Chairperson (Nutrition Department of the Ghana Health Service); 
Mrs. Isabella Mansa Agra, Ms. Maria Lovelace -Johnson, Dr. M. Mohammed -Alfa, Mr. 
Benjamin Osei Tutu (Food and Drugs Authority under the Mini stry of Health); Ms. Joyce 
Okoree, Mrs. Genevieve Baah -Mante (Ghana Standards Authority, Ministry of Trade and 
Industry); Dr. Sam Adu -Kumi (Environmental Protection Agency under the Ministry of 
Environment, Science and Technology); Dr. Francis Kunadu -Ampra twum (Veterinary Services 
Directorate  under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture); Dr. F. D. Tay (National Development 
Planning Commission);  Ms. Akosua Kwakye (World Health Organisation Ghana office); Ms. 
Sophie Tadria (United Nations Food and Agriculture  Organisation).  
 
Special thanks also go to all those  who reviewed and made comments during the drafting of the 
policy as well as those who participated in the various workshops to validate the findings of the 
Situational Analysis Report.  
 
Sincere thanks a re expressed to our development partners namely, the World Health 
Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), whose technical and 
financial support has immensely contributed to the development of this document.  
 
The Ministry is als o grateful for the work of the Consultants who helped to put this document 
together including Mrs. Sheila Minkah -Premo, Mrs. Christine Dowuona -Hammond and Mr. 
Samuel Manteaw.  
 
 
MINISTER FOR HEALTH  
ACCRA, OCTOBER, 2012  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 10 1.0 INTRODUCTION  
  
There is i ncreasing global interest on the safety of foods available for home and institutional 
consumption. This interest is heightened when the food is intended for the market both local and 
export. To address these concerns national and international strategies h ave been put in place to 
provide information, standards and regulations to ensure that consumers get the best value for 
health and nutrition.  
 
Food safety and its impact on food security of populations have been considered as important for 
all nati ons. When food safety systems are properly in place they contribute to improved public 
health, increased access to food trade, reduction of poverty, increased food security and the 
protection of the environment, enhanced productivity and above all national develo pment.     
 
Food safety  involves systems to protect the food supply from microbial, chemical and physical 
hazards arising from production, harvesting, processing, storage, transportation and marketing 
activities. This has led to the farm -to-table approach t o nutrition, food safety and consumer 
protection and the associated role s of operators of the food supply chain. In addition, the 
cooperation and coordination between the public and private sectors on the development of food 
standards and food safety contr ols are important. Important international standards have been set 
by the  key standard setting bodies namely:  Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), Office 
International des Epizoties (OIE) also known as World Animal Health Organisation , and the 
implementat ion body for the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) as well as 
International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) , to ensure food safety the world over . 
International  bodies that have played a key part in developing these standards include  the World 
Trade Organisation (WTO) , World Health Organisation (WHO)  and Food and Agriculture 
Organisation (FAO) . Ghana is a member of these international standard setting bodies and 
participates in the development of  these standards  on food safety, animal  and plant health .  
 
For the developing world , the incidence of food and water -related diseases such as diarrhea due 
to microbial contamination is high. In addition, limited capacity for food -borne disease 
surveillance , outdated and overlapping food legisl ation, limited human resource s and inadequate 
education in food safety and the poor appreciation of the public health implications of unsafe 
food handling practices, exposure to mycotoxins and the lack of national policy on food safety 
have compounded the problem.  
 
In Ghana, there are major concerns  and gaps that currently exist with regard to national food 
safety and which call for the enactment of the National Food Safety Policy. There are food safety 
issues with regard to food production, handling, pack aging, processing and transportation. There 
are biological, chemical and phy sical contaminants in the food chain. As Ghana seeks to improve 
her competitiveness on the global markets , there is the need to review how agri -business (from 
production to consump tion) is conducted especially as it relates to quality and risk analysis in the 
country.  Farmers and other business operators in the food chain need to have capacities to assure 
food quality and safety to the consumer.  There are also multiplicities  of reg ulators within the 
food value chain, whose activities are largely uncoordinated.  
  DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 11 A multi -stakeholder  task team was set up to help with the process of assess ing the food safety 
situation in Ghana and Consult ants were also engaged to undertake a situationa l analysis on food 
safety, which resulted in the report titled “Food Safety in Ghana – A Situational Analysis” . The 
report  identified some of the major problems with regard to food safety in Ghana. 
Recommendations were made in this report for the preparati on of a national policy on food 
safety. Following the validation of the report at two stakeholder meetings, consultants were 
engaged to prepare the National Food Safety Policy and a National Food Safety Policy 
Committee was set up to work with the consulta nts in the development of the policy.  
 
The next section 2.0 outlines the problem statement for the policy and  summarises some of the 
key findings from the situational analysis undertaken on food safety and is  followed by a look at 
the policy  context.  The policy statement and guiding principles then follow  in sections 3.0 and 
4.0. The next section , 5.0,  sets out the policy directions after which the policy measures follows 
in 6.0. This is followed by the implementation framework/ strateg y for the policy whic h is set out  
in section 7.0. Institutional mechanisms for achieving policy objectives are outlined afterwards  in 
section 8.0. The monitoring and evaluation secti on then follows  in section 9.0. The policy ends 
with a section 10.0 on funding  mechanism s.  
 
 
2.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT  ON FOOD SAFETY IN GHANA  
 
2.1 SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS  
 
An assessment  of the food safety situation to inform the development of the National Food 
Safety Policy , which resulted in the report titled “Food Safety in Ghana – A Situational 
Analy sis” identified some of the major problems with regard to food safety  as follows : 
 
(i) Food production and food safety  - The major food safety challenges associated with 
food production include chemical and  microbial contamination of foods; poor harvestin g and 
drying systems for grains resulting in the production and accumulation of fungal toxins; poor 
handling and packaging of fresh produce at the farm level for foods destined especially for the 
local market.  In addition the study further noted that Ghana , like other African countries, has a 
high incidence of food and water -related diseases such as diarrhea due to microbial 
contamination.  
  
(ii) The food value chain - The food v alue chain consists of a sequence of activities 
includ ing production, harvestin g, handling, packaging, transportation, marketing, distribution, 
processing and consumption.  The Ghanaian food value chain is dominated by the informal 
sector which plays a major role in food delivery to the various end users  and are involv ed in  
activitie s in food production, food trade, food processing and food distribution and marketing.  
From available studies, s ome of the challenges faced by the informal sector include lack of 
potable water for street vending operations (leading to several infections li ke leptospirosis, 
clostridium perfringes  gastroenteritis, cryptosporisdiosis, diarrhea etc.), use of meat from 
unlicensed sources and the consumption of these uninspected meat or uncertified meat may 
expose the consumers to anthrax, bovine tuberculosis, tr ichinellosis and taeniasis. In addition, 
there are different types of  markets in Ghana, the operations of which are control led by local and DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 12 Municipal /Metropolitan  Authorities  (MMDAs) . Agricultural marketing in Ghana  includes  sale 
at: farm -gates, roadside/o pen markets; purposively built-markets with stalls ; container/kiosk 
selling points; table -top and itinerant retailers. They handle a wide range of food commodities in 
the form of raw, semi -processed and finished goods. For some commodities there is an intr icate 
network of actors and activities which are generally not regul ated and it is difficult to trace the 
source of material being offered for sale. Some activities at the market  including unfavourable 
storage conditions; poor hygienic conditions for food marketing, processing and sale for 
consumption,  can also be an important source of food contamination, which can compromise 
food safety , nutrition  and health. Exposure of produce to unfavourable storage conditions; poor 
hygienic conditions for food marketi ng, processing and consumption can all contribute to 
challenges in food safety.   
 
(iii)    Imports and exports  - There are also challenges with the safety and quality of food items 
import ed and export ed, food safety research, safety  and control  of genetic ally modified 
organisms and foods, inspection of food products and plants , all of which need to be addressed in 
a holistic manner.  
 
(iv)    Training  and food safety management systems - Training in food safety for nutritionist s 
and other food related profe ssions are offered at some institutions including the Department of 
Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Ghana in collaboration with the Industry Council 
for Development who have set up a Food Safety and Nutrition Training Centre. The Food and 
Drug Authority  and Ghana Standards Authority also run training programmes for stakeholders in 
the setting up and implementation of food safety management systems. With regard s to 
accreditation of Food Safety Management Systems, Ghana Standards Authority  is in the final 
stages of being accredited to ISO 22000:2005 Food Safety Management Systems (F SMS) under 
its Systems Certification Programme and this will enable the G hana Standards Authority  to 
certify food establishments  to ISO 22000:2005 . However , there is  no system  for overall 
coordination to ensure that training  in food safety and management systems are  properly 
regulated . 
 
(v) Consumer and public Educat ion - Consumer and public education has been identified 
as being of paramount importance in the safe ha ndling of food , whether processed or 
unprocessed. There are concerns with street vending of food in unsanitary conditions exposing 
consumers to food safety hazards with serious health implications. Various educational 
programmes are mounted by organisation s (F ood and Drugs Authority , Ghana Standards 
Authority , Environmental Protection Agency , Ministry of Local Government and Rural 
Development , Ministry of Food and Agriculture  etc.) to educate consumers and operators , but 
there are still challenges in this a rea due to lack of coordination .  
 
(vi) Laboratories and surveillance  - With regard to food control laboratories and 
surveillance, it was noted that t here are laboratories with the capacity to analyze foods and other 
products in support of a food safety sy stem. Most of these are in the public sector institutions 
such as the Universities and research institutes. Specialized laboratories are present under the 
Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate, Veterinary Services Directorate, Food and 
Drugs  Authority , Food Research I nstitu te and Ghana Standards Authority . The Food Research 
Institute and Ghana Standards Authority have laboratories accredited to ISO 17025: General DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 13 requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories . There a re also private 
sector laboratories that are mostly concerned with health and medical laboratory services.  Ghana 
however does not have a food-borne  disease surveillance system that can effectively inform the 
managers of food safety. There is the need to d evelop the legal framework for surveillance and 
the development of human and infrastructural capacity. The role of the public universities and 
research institut ions as well as public and private health laboratories must be fashioned out. The 
report notes t hat the mandatory certification processes and surveillance activit ies of the Food and 
Drugs Authority  and Ghana Standards Authority contribute immensely towards national 
surveillance programmes. Surveillance is also dependent upon the records of physicians  and 
clinical laboratories. Reports on diseases and specific diagnosed infections in hospitals and 
clinics all over the country also contribute to the surveillance programmes. Two key ministries 
with agencies or institutions directly involved in monitoring  and surveillance of food -borne 
diseases are the Ministries of Health (MOH) and Food and Agriculture  (MOFA) . Under these 
two broad Ministries are a number of agencies that are responsible for legislative, technical and 
practical implementation of food safe ty programmes. Under the M OH is the Disease 
Surveillance Department of the Ghana Health Service and the National Disease Surveillance 
Unit that was set up under the Public Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service to 
coordinate and implement integrate d surveillance activities in the country. Under MOFA is the 
Veterinary Service Department.  Institutions and industr ies involved in food safety (testing, 
processing, stor age etc. ) should ensure that they have calibration  and traceability for their 
measuring  instruments.   
 
(vii) Bio-safety issues  – Research in the area of food safety as it applies to the use of radiation 
technology is undertaken by the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural  Institute (BNARI) of 
the Ghana Atomic Energy Commissio n (GAEC). BNARI  is a research and technology transfer 
institution that provides cutting edge solutions through the use of biotechnology and nuclear 
technologies for the development of elite crop varieties, production of healthy planting materials 
for farmers, protection  of crops and livestock, reduction of post -harvest food losses, 
enhancement of the safety of foods and health -care delivery. The BNARI also carries out 
research on food safety issues. It was the lead institution that coordinated efforts for drafting the 
National Biosafety Framework , which provides for a domestic regula tory and management 
system with respect to modern biotechnology activities in Ghana.  There is in place a Na tional  
Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831) , which seeks to regulate all activities in biote chnology including 
contained use, releases into the environment and placements in the market, export and import 
and transit of genet ically modified organisms . The Act sets out  a biosafety  regulatory regime , 
which operates within a coordinated framework wit h a coordinating agency, the National 
Biosafety Authority. Monitoring and enforcement issues are however expected to be handled by 
the existing regulatory agencies.  
 
(viii) Legislati ve framework on food safety  - Ghana has several pieces of legislation on f ood 
safety including: legislation governing food and drugs; legislation governing standards; 
legislation governing health and safety of animals and animal products and legislation 
controlling pests affecting plan ts and plant products . The re are also a numb er of bills and draft 
laws aimed at enacting new legislation with regard to some of the regulators and 
recommendations made to strengthen them.   
 DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 14 The legislation supporting the various institutions involved in food safety and standards are 
reviewed in the  next section to determine the level of compliance with the relevant international 
obligations and standards , conformity with the principles of modern food regulations  and 
identifies how far roles interact with each other . The overview provides the highlig hts of the 
provisions of each statute, identifies the gaps and/or overlaps and makes recommendations for 
consideration.  
 
(A) Legislative framework on food safety  
The laws re levant for food safety includes the Food and Drugs Act, 1992 (P .N.D.C.L. 305B)  as 
amend ed, the Tourism Act, 2011 (Act 817), the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462) and 
various Local Government (District/Municipal/Metropolitan Assembly).  
 
(1) Public Health Act, 2012 (Act  851)1  
The Part 7 of the Public Health Act, 2012 ( Act 851), establishes the  Food and Drugs Authority  
with the object of providing and enforcing standards for the sale of food, herbal medicinal 
products, cosmetics, drugs, medical devices and chemical substances. The Act empowers the 
Food and Drugs Authority, among others, to ens ure adequate and effective standards for food, 
drugs, cosmetics, household chemicals and medical devices and to advise the Minister on 
measures for the protection of the health of consumers.  To enable it t o achieve its object section 
82(b) gives the Food a nd Drugs Authority the power to “monitor through the District Assemblies 
and any other agency of State compliance with the provisions of this Part” (i.e. Public Health 
Act). Section 82 (f) also gives it power to “perform any other functions that are ancilla ry to 
attaining the objects of the Authority.”   
 
The Act provides that a person shall not manufacture, import, export, distribute, sell or supply 
food unless the Authority has registered the food. The Authority is authorized to register food if 
it is satis fied that the food complies with the prescribed standards and the manufacturing 
operations for the food complies with the prescribed codes of good manufacturing practices.  
Exporters and  importers of food are also required to be registered by the Authority  and to comply 
with its Regulations and Guidelines.  Food shall be registered by the Authority if the Authority is 
satisfied that the composition of the food proposed to be exported or imported is not of a 
standard below the specifications prescribed under  the Act; and the food and the practices related 
to the food do not contravene a provision of the Act. The  Act makes it an offence to sell food 
that is adulterated, contains a harmful or poisonous substance; is injurious to health, 
unwholesome or unfit for  human or animal consumption or contains any filthy, putrid, rotten, 
decomposed or diseased animal or vegetable substance.  
 
The Act also regulates slaughter houses and forbids the use of any premises for the slaughter of 
animals with intent to sell or sup ply the meat for human or animal consumption, unless the 
premises are registered by the District Assembly. The Veterinary Services Department is 
required under the Act to collaborate with the Food and Drug Authority to carry out meat 
inspection in slaughte r houses. The Act further regulates the transportation of meat for sale.  
Significantly, the Public Health Act gives the Food and Drugs Authority the power to prosecute 
any person who contravenes a provision of Part 7 of the Act, subject to section 56 of th e 
                                                           
1 The Public Health Act has replaced the Food an d Drugs Act, 1992 (P .N.D.C.L.  305B ) and Food and Drugs 
Amendment Act, 1996 (Act 532 ).   DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 15 Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30). The Act specifies the penalties for 
the various offences that may be committed under Part 7 of the Act or the Regulations.  
 
(2) Tourism Act, 2011 (Act 817)   
This new law  supersedes the Tourist Board Decree, 1973 (N .R.C.D. 224) as amended . It 
establishes the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) to regulate the tourism industry. The Authority 
is tasked to: grant licenses for the tourism industry; regulate and supervise tourism enterprises; 
establish stan dards, guidelines and codes of practice for running a tourist enterprise and 
attractions; and regulate and monitor the activities of licensees.  Before issuing a license the GTA 
is empowered to satisfy itself that proper provision has been made for sanitati on in the premises, 
storage, preparation, cooking and serving of food and drink and that the premises conform to 
laws on sanitation and public health and safety. However this should be certified by competent 
authority in food safety. For the purpose of reg istration and licensing of tourism enterprises, the 
Authority is required to set up an inter -agency committee to review permits issued by other 
agencies including District Planning Authority of the area concerned; the Environmental 
Protection Agency  (EPA) ; and the District/Municipal/Metropolitan Health Directorate.  (See 
section 27 of Act 817).  This inter -agency committee is e xpected to ensure integration  to address 
ooverlaps  in granting of licenses to operate restaurants  under the mandates of 
Metropolitan/ Municipal/District Assemblies , EPA and F ood and Drug Authority .  
 
(3) Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462) and Local Government 
(Metropolitan /Municipal/District  Assemblies) (Establishment) Instruments  
Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assemblies  (MMDAs ) are u ltimately responsible for the 
development, improvement and management of human settlements and the environment in 
districts, municipalities, and metropolis. In particular, the Establishment Instruments of MMDAs 
make it the duty of MMDAs to provide for the inspection of all meat, fish, vegetables and all 
other foodstuffs and liquids of whatever kind or nature intended for human consumption whether 
exposed for sale or not. The MMDAs are also mandated under their Establishment Instruments 
to seize, destroy and  otherwise deal with all such foodstuffs or liquids as a re unfit for human 
consumption. Supervision and control of the manufacture of foodstuffs and liquids intended for 
human consumption are also entrusted to the MMDAs.  
The MMDAs are also mandated to: pr ovide, maintain, supervise and control slaughter -houses ; 
prevent and deal with the outbreak or the prevalence of any diseases; prohibit, restrict or regulate 
the hunting, capture, killing or sale of animals or birds; prohibit, restrict, regulate and licens e the 
manufacture, distillation, sale, transportation, distribution, supply, possession and consumption 
of akpeteshi, palmwine, and all kinds of description of fermented liquor usually made by citizens 
of Ghana or adjacent countries.   As indicated above, u nder the Public Health Act, the Food and 
Drug Authority is to monitor through the District Assemblies among others , compliance with the 
provisions of this Part  7 of the Act  that deals with Food and Drugs. There are shared 
responsibilities  with regard to me at inspection mandates for MMDAs with that of the Veterinary 
Services D irectorate  (VSD) , which have been clarified in section 108 of the Public Health Act 
that states that the  MMDAs are responsible for registering slaughter houses whilst the VSD in 
collabo ration with the F ood and Drugs Authority  carry out meant inspection in slaughter houses. 
There is also a d raft Meat Inspection Bill  that has been prepared but is yet to be finalised and 
which  also seeks to address the shared responsibilities.  
 DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 16  
(B) Legisla tive Framework on Food Standards  
The laws established for the promulgation of food standards include  the Standards Authority Act, 
1973 (N.R.C.D. 173) as amended and its subsidiary legislation as well as the Weights and 
Measures Decree, 1975 (N.R.C.D. 326). 
 
(1) Standards Authority Act, 1973 (N.R.C.D 173) as amended by Ghana Standards 
Board (Amendment) Decree, 1979 (A.F.R.C.D. 44)   
Apart from the parent law  indicated above the following subsidiary legislation  are relevant for 
food standards : Ghana Standards (Cer tification Marks) Rules, 1970 (L.I. 662); Ghana Standards 
(Certification Marks) (Amendment Rules), 1970 (L.I. 664); Ghana Standards Board (Food, 
Drugs and Other Goods) General Labeling Rules, 1992 (L.I. 1541).  
 Ghana Standard s Authority (in revised laws of  Ghana) is established as a body corporate with  
perpetual succession with the following functions:  Establish and promulgate standards with the 
object of ensuring high quality of goods produced in Ghana;  Promote standardization in industry 
and commerce;  Promote industrial efficiency and development;  Promote public and industrial 
welfare, health and safety.  ”Goods” are defined as “any article, commodity or any other matter 
that may be prescribed”, thus covering food and food products.  N.R.C.D. 173 gives the  Ghana 
Standards Authority (GSA) statutory functions in the area of sale, manufacture, exportation and 
importation of foods.   A draft Standards Bill, 2000 is pending and is yet to be completed.   
 
(2) Weights and Measures Decree, 1975 (N .R.C.D. 326)  as amended  by the Weights 
and Measures (Amendment) Law, 1992 (P .N.D.C.L. 301) 
This law establishes the units of measurement to be used in Ghana as the International System of 
Units and states that no other units of measurement or their multiples shall be used.  The D ecree 
requires the Minister to cause to be prepared national prototype standards of mass and measure 
of the units of the International System of Units as set out in the Decree. These national 
prototype standards of mass and measure, upon being verified and  certified shall constitute the 
Ghanaian Primary Standards of mass and measure and shall be verified at least once every 10 
years at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures . 
 
(C)Legislative framework on pests affecting plants  and plant  products  
The relevant laws reviewed are: Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490) and the 
Plants and Fertilizers Act, 2010 (Act 803).  
 
(1) Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490)  
The Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490) consolidates  the laws relating to 
environmental protection and pesticides control and regulation. It establishes the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) as the overarching institution to perform several anti -environmental 
pollution and pest management functions incl uding: prescription of standards and guidelines 
relating to the pollution of air, water, land and any other forms of environmental pollution 
including the discharge of waste and the control of toxic substances;  acting in liaison and co -
operation with gover nment agencies, District Assemblies and other bodies and institutions to 
control pollution and generally protect the environment;  regulating the import, export, 
manufacture, distribution, sale and use of pesticides.  DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 17 Act 490 empowers the EPA to appoint envi ronment al protection inspectors and empowers these 
persons to enter any premises for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the Act. Protection 
inspectors and District Assemblies are also empowered to inspect equipments used or to be used 
in applying pest icides; inspect the storage or disposal facilities or areas used for the storage or 
disposal of pesticides; inspect land actually, or reported to be, exposed to pesticides; investigate 
complaints of injury to human beings and animals, or damage to land and  pollution of water 
bodies resulting from the use of pesticides; take samples of pesticides applied or to be applied; 
monitor the sale and use of pesticides; and examine and take copies of a license or any other 
documents required by the Act or its Regulat ion. 
  
The EPA Act also establishes the Hazardous Chemicals Committee with representation from 
institutions with functions which relate to food safety including G SA and the Veterinary Services 
Directorate  of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The Commit tee monitors the use of 
hazardous chemicals by collecting information on the importation, exportation, manufacture, 
distribution, sale, use and disposal of those chemicals.  The EPA addresses the potential threat 
posed by pesticides to food safety by subjec ting the importation, export, manufacture, 
distribution, advertisement, sale, and use of pesticides in Ghana to a registration regime. There 
are overlaps between the role o EPA officers and that of MMDAs.  
 
(2) Plants and Fertilizer  Act, 2010 (Act 803)  
The Act provides for the efficient conduct of plant protection, to prevent the introduction and 
spread of plant pests, regulate the import and facilitate the export of plants and plant materials. 
The Act stipulates that a person shall not import a plant, plant mat erial or conveyance without an 
import permit and a phytosanitary certificate.  Any plant, plant material or other item that may 
contain plant pests shall on its importation into the country be subject to inspection in accordance 
with the procedures of the I nternational Plant Protection Convention  (IPPC) . The Act provides 
that any plant, plant material or other item that may contain plant pests shall on its importation 
into the country be subject to inspection in accordance with the procedures of the IPPC.  The Act 
establishes the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) of the Ministry to 
be responsible for:  Crop pest and disease management ; Plant quarantine ; Pesticide management ;  
Seed inspection and certification .  
 
The statutory functio ns of the PPRSD include to: issue phytosanitary import permits for plants, 
plant products and other related articles;  issue certificates for phytosanitary regulation of the 
import contracting party for the consignment of plants, plant products and other re gulated 
articles;  carry out surveillance of growing plants including areas under cultivation, fields, 
plantations, etc. particularly to report the occurrence, outbreak and spread of pests and the 
control of the pests;  inspect consignments of plants and pla nt products and where appropriate 
other regulated articles to prevent the introduction and spread of pests;  Carry  out the 
disinfestations or disinfection of consignments of plants and plant products and other regulated 
articles moving in international traf fic and ensure that they meet phytosanitary requirements; and 
conduct pest risk analyses.  There are overlaps with the work of the EPA in the regulation of the 
use of pesticides which must be addressed.  
 
(D) Legislative framework on animals and animal produ cts DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 18 The laws reviewed are as follows: Animals (Control of Importation) Ordinance (Cap 247) ; 
Diseases of Animals Act, 1961 (Act 83) ; Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1992, (P .N.D.C.L. 305C) ; 
Fisheries Act, 2003 (Act 625) ; Fisheries Regulations, 2010 (L.1. 1968) .2 Furthermore the Local 
Government Act, 1992 (Act 462)  is also applicable  and there are overlapping roles with that o f 
the Veterinary Service with regard to the control of animals . Below is a review of some of the 
major legislation.  
 
(1) Animals (Control of I mportation) Act, No. 36 of 1952:  
Provides for the control of the importation of animals by  among others : Empowering the 
Minister for Food and Agriculture to prohibit the importation of an animal into Ghana for the 
purposes of preventing the intr oduction of  diseases into Ghana; Empowering veterinary 
inspectors, acting with the consent of the Director of Veterinary Services, to seize animals 
imported into Gha na in contravention of the Act; Empowering veterinary inspectors to cause to 
be slaughtered imported a nimals which are infected or suspected of being infected with diseases, 
or imported animals which have been in contact with diseased animals or have been otherwise 
exposed to the infe ction or contagion of a disease; Providing for the disposal of the carcas ses of 
slaughtered animals and specifying the beneficiaries of the proceeds  of sale of slaughtered 
animals; Making provision for the recovery, by the State from importers, of expenses incurred in 
the keep and treatment of the animal pending the examination . This law has some short comings 
and overlaps  including:  The Animals (Control of Importation) Act is an old and outdated 
colonial legislation which does not take account of modern international standards ; Overlapping 
veterinary functions between the Veter inary Services Directorate and the M MDAs since the l aw 
is unclear as to who plays the lead role ; Financial sanctions for contravention of the law have 
outlived their purpose and need to be updated.  Veterinary Service should update all their laws to 
meet in ternational standards.  
 
(2) Diseases of Animals Act, 1961 (Act 83):  
Provides for the prevention and control of the spread of infectious and contagious diseases 
among animals by empowering the Minister for Food and Agriculture to declare a district, area 
or place to be an infected area where a disease breaks out in that place.  A declaration puts 
owners or persons having the charge of animals susceptible to the disease for which the area has 
been declared to be an infected area under obligation to:  Personally  register at the nearest 
agriculture office in the district or at the prescribed office ; State the number of animals they own 
or have charge of, and the area where the animals feed ; Register any variation in the number of 
animals or alteration of the area where they feed.  
 
The Act empowers the veterinary authority to impose strict restrictions on the movement of 
registered animals in and out of infected areas.  It also obliges owners and persons in charge of 
animals which have died of, or are suffering from  a disease, or suspected to have died of, or to be 
suffering from a disease to notify the nearest veterinary authority. It also gives veterinary officers 
important investigative powers to prevent the outbreak or spread of disease.  The Act further 
empowers veterinary officers to conduct autopsy on dead animals and to require an animal to be 
                                                           
2 Other applicable laws which are very old and outdated and not reviewed in this section include: Infectious Disease Ordinance,  
1908 (CAP 78); Quarantine Ordinance, 19 15 (CAP 77); Vaccination Ordinance, 1920 (CAP 76); Tsetse Fly Control Ordinance, 
1955 (CAP 1955); Animal (Artificial Insemination) Ordinance, 1955 (CAP 33).   DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 19 examined, inoculated, sprayed, dipped, washed, or otherwise disinfected or to undergo a period 
of quarantine in order to prevent the outbreak or spread of disease.  
Some of the shortcomings of the law include : absence of express provisions in the law 
empowering the Veterinary Services Directorate to conduct meat inspection or designating the 
Directorate as  the lead/coordina ting agency for meat inspection; overlapping  veter inary functions 
between the Veterinary Services Directorate and MMDAs . It has also been indicated that the law 
needs to be revised to meet current challenges in animal disease  control. The l aw is unclear as to 
who plays the lead role  and this should be cla rified in the proposed Meat Inspection Act . 
 
(3) Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1992 (P.N.D.C.L. 305C)  
This law e stablish es the Veterinary Council  to regulate the affairs of veterinary surgeons . The 
Authority functions to:  prescribe standards of professional conduct  and ethics for practitioners;  
uphold and enforce professional standards by disciplinary powers conferred under this law;  
maintain and publish a register of practitioners; and  do any other things that in the opinion of the 
Veterinary Authority Board are ne cessary or desirable for the proper regulation of the practice of 
veterinary sur gery and the improvement of veterinary services.  
 
(4) Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625)  and Fisheries Regulations, 2010 (L.I. 1968)  
The Act consolidates with amendments the law on fish eries, to provide for the regulation and 
management of fisheries, for the development of the fishing industry and the sustainable 
exploitation of fishery resources.  It also sets up the Fisheries Commission. The Minister 
responsible for fisheries is given t he power to enact  regulations to implement the Act a nd 
enacted the Fisheries Regulations, 2010 (L.I. 1968). The Regulations  provides among others for 
the following : prescribe measures for the conservation, management, development, licensing and 
regulation of fisheries or a particular fishery, including total allowable catch and quota system as 
the Minister considers appropriate;  establish rules on catching, loading, landing, handling, 
transshipping, transporting, possession and disposal of fish;  set rules o n the importation, export, 
distribution and marketing of fish and fish products;  prescribe standards relating to aquaculture, 
to recreational fishing or to canoe fishing including markings and identity of canoes; and  
prescribe rules relating to the control , inspection and conditions of operation of fish processing 
establishments.   
 
With regard to fish exports to the European Union, the regulators of fisheries in Ghana appear 
not to play a key role. This is due to the fact that under European Commission prot ocol 
EC91/493EEC  the GSA is the designated institution and c compliance  to requirements in 
directive 91/493/EEC is mandatory for all exporters of fishery products to the EU. Since 1998, 
GSA has been mandated according to the European Commission Decision 98/ 421/EC of June 
1998 to be the Competent Authority  in Ghana for Verifying  and Certifying compliance of 
Fishery and Aquaculture  products with the requirements of Directive 91/493/EEC. Capacity of 
Fisheries should be built to implement their roles  effectively . 
 
(v)      Existing Guidelines and Policies touching on food safety – A number of national 
policies and programmes instituted by various sectors and agencies that touch on food and food 
safety were identified in the Report of the Situa tional Analysis as w ell as the  gaps and challenges  
identified in them . These included the following:  
 DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 20 (1) Environmental Sanitation Policy  - An Environmental Sanitation Policy was put 
in place in 1999 by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development 
(MLGRD) and revise d in 2001. This policy takes a wide view of sanitation, covering 
solid waste disposal and food hygiene and takes a decentralized approach. Under this 
policy ensuring environmental sanitation is the responsibility of all citizens, communities, 
private secto r enterprises, NGOs and institutions of government. The principal 
components of the Environmental Policy, which have a direct bearing on food safety are:  
Control of pests and vectors of disease; Food hygiene;  Environmental sanitation 
education and inspec tion; Enforceme nt of sanitary regulations; Control of rearing and 
straying of animals; and  Monitoring the observance of environmental standards. The 
MLGRD is the key implementer  and coordinator of the policy.  
In addition, u nder the MLGRD, a National Envir onmental Sanitation Policy Coordination 
Council has been established. It is made up of representatives from relevant government 
agencies, non -governmental organizations (NGOs) and private sector groups. The 
Council is responsible for coordinating policy an d ensuring effective communication and 
cooperation between the many different agencies involved in environmental sanitation 
within the context of a coherent national programme. Whilst the MLGRD provide s the 
broad guidelines and policies, the implementation  is mainly carried out by the MMDAs . 
The Environmental Sanitation Policy, 2001, spells out four (4) distinct functions to be 
performed by the MMDAs. One of the functions , which involve s food safety and control 
activities is Public Health Management. This f unction is carried out by the Environmental 
Health and Management Department with private sector inputs where appropriate. The 
Environmental Sanitation Policy has made provision for the participation of the private 
sector in waste management services but n ot in food hygiene and inspection work. 
Environmental sanitation education can be undertaken by both the public and private 
(NGOs) sectors.    
 
(2) Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS I) - The implementation of the Ghana 
Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS I) by the Government of Ghana over the period 2003 -
2005, resulted in stable macroeconomic environment with increased fiscal space. This 
was followed by the implementation of the national development policy framework - the 
Growth and Poverty Reduction Strat egy (GPRS II) - over the period 2006 -2009. In 
addition to the implementation of policies addressing poverty under G PRS I and II, the 
Government of Ghana has adopted Modernized Agriculture Based on Rural Development 
as an objective which broadly entails: Re forming land acquisition; Catalyzing the private 
sector to increase the production of staples; Encouraging the production of cash crops 
such as cashew; Easing access to farming inputs; Supporting the private sector to add 
value to traditional crops such as  cocoa; Developing marketing channels for agricultural 
produce.   
 
(3) Ghana Shared Growth and development Agenda (GSGDA, 2010 -2013)  – This 
medium Ter m National Development Policy framework has a section dealing with health 
issues. It mentions persistent po licy related issues that need to be addressed  within the 
health sector . It propose s that t he intervention with regard to healthcare legislation is to 
pass new and outstanding bills intended to meet current policy challenges of the health 
sector. The strate gies proposed to address the challenges include improvement of DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 21 surveillance, epidemic preparedness and response to diseases like cholera. It also includes 
addressing issues of emerging and other zoonotic diseases (e.g. H1N1, anthrax, rabies, 
avian flu etc. ). All these strategies are relevant in developing a National Food Safety 
Policy.  
 
(4)Ghana Trade Policy  - The Ghana Trade Policy published in December 2004, has 
seven thematic areas. The thematic area under which food safety falls is “Consumer 
Protection and Fair Trade”. The premise under which this policy was written is that “an 
environment that affords protection to consumers and promotes fair trade is important for 
the development of efficiently functioning markets and enhances consumer welfare” 
(MOTI, 2004). The Trade Policy supports the twin strategies - export -led 
industrialization and domestic -led industrialization based on import competition by first, 
promoting increased competitiveness of local producers in domestic and international 
markets based on fair and equal competition and secondly, by introducing an import and 
domestic trade regime which promotes and protects consumer interests. Health and 
Safety of consumers is one of the sub -policies under the Consumer Protection and Fair 
trade thematic a rea in the Ghana Trade Policy. The Ghana Standards Authority and 
Ghana Export Promotion Authority  are institutions within MOTI which are expected to 
implement this policy which has a bearing on food safety.  
 
(5)Revised Food Safety Action Plan  – The Ministr y of Food and Agriculture prepared a 
National Food Safety Action Plan, which is yet to be adopted. With support from the 
World Bank and Africa Agriculture and Rural Development (AFTAR) and working 
through a Food Safety Task Force , MOFA prepared a Revised F ood Safety Action Plan 
in 2011. The plan among others , calls for the enhancement of the capacity of the Plant 
Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD)  to facilitate their work as the 
Competent Authority for plant health certification in acco rdance  with international 
standards.  
 
Other policies and guidelines exist in other sectors but none of them addresses the issue of food 
safety in a comprehensive manner and this calls for the development of a comprehensive 
National Food Safety Policy for G hana.  
 
(ix) Institutions involve d in food safety activities  - Institutions involved in food safety 
activities fall under the public sector, the private sector and public -private partnerships as 
follows:  
(1) The public sector institutions take their authority from specific legislations and policies. 
They include relevant Ministries Departments and Agencies like : Ministry of Health and 
its agency the Food and Drugs Authority ; Ministry of Trade and Industries works through 
its agency the Ghana Standards Authority ; Ministry of Science  and Technology and its 
agency the Environmental Protection Agency  as well as the Council  for Scientific and 
Industrial Research (CSIR)  including its Food Research Institute, Animal Research 
Institute  and Crop Research Institute and th e Water Resources Institute among others ; 
Ministry of Agriculture and its agencies including Veterinary Services Directorate , 
Fisheries  Department,  the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate , Women 
in Agricultural Development, Agricultural E xtension; Ministry of Local Government and DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 22 Rural Development and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies under it; 
Ministry of Works and Housing; Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning with its 
agency the Customs  Excise and P reventive Servic e as well as the Ghana Export 
Promotion Council ; Ministry of Interior with the Ghana Police Service under it; Ministry 
of Tourism; Ministry of Education including primary, technical and tertiary  institutions  
including public Universities with research ins titutions like those at the University of 
Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of 
Cape Coast (UCC), University of Development Studies (UDS) .. It also includes 
independent commissions like the Water Res ources Commiss ion and the Ghana Atomic 
Energy Commission . 
 
(2) The private sector institutions are industry and trade associations with strong interest in 
ensuring that science -based food safety principles are applied to their operations to ensure 
competitiveness. The Sea F reight Pineapple Exporters of Ghana (SPEG) is an example.  
 
(3) The public -private partnerships such as the National Horticultural Task Force bring these 
two sectors together for the purpose of promoting an efficient food control system.  
 
2.2 NEED FOR A NATION AL FOOD SAFETY POLICY  
 
Whil e the s ituational analysis on food safety  revealed fragmented and poorly coordinated 
institutions in respect of food safety activities, there is great potential to harness their collective 
skills and strength. It is recommended that a new organizational framework and relationships 
delineating core responsibilities be developed. This will require Ministries, Departments and 
Agencies and other public and private institutions to rethink their roles and allow the 
development of a syst em that will bring efficiency in the development of policy options, 
technical approaches and operational activities.  
 
 
3.0 POLICY CONTEXT  
 
This section highlights the international, regional and nati onal legal framework for food safety in 
order to establi sh the scope and context of the policy. The goals and objectives of this policy are 
founded on the principles and standards enunciated in the national laws indicated above as well 
as the International and Regional Conventions and Instruments , which Ghana h as ratified. The 
policy framework is therefore designed to fulfill the legal obligations and responsibilities 
imposed on the State at the national, regional and international levels, with respect to the 
promotion of food safety and the elimination of the r isks of food -borne diseases and risks 
associated with poor food h andling  and other potential contaminants . 
  
3.1 INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEGAL CONTEXT  
 
The international standard s referenced in the World Trade Organisation’s rules which Ghana has 
to com ply with in terms of the scope and contents of its national food safety policy and 
legislative framework are : Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS 
Agreement) ; International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) , World Animal Health DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 23 Organizati on, that is Office International de Epitzoties (OIE)  , Codex Alimenta rius Commission , 
which is a joint FAO/WHO Food Standards  Programme.  
 
3.1.1 Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement)3 
Ghana  is required under the SPS Agreement, to  participate fully, within the limits of its 
resources, in the activities of identified international organisations  and their subsidiary bodies, in 
particular, the CAC, OIE and the international and regional organisations  operating within the 
framework of the International Plan t Protection Convention (IPPC).  
The WTO ’s Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures (SPS) references the standards 
developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, OIE and IPPC in relation to Food Safety, 
Animal Health and Plan t Health respectively as the source of international standards. This 
imposes an obligation on Ghana, as a member of the WTO, to progressively adopt these 
international standards on food safety as the basis of its national requirements, policies and 
regulat ions.  
3.1.1.1  International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)  
The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is an international plant health agreement, 
established in 1952, that deals with plant health standards. It aims to protect cultivated and  wild 
plants by preventing the introduction and spread of pests.   The Commission on Phytosanitary 
Measures is the governing body of the IPPC. The Regional Plant Protection Organization 
(RPPO) is an inter -governmental organization functioning as a coordinat ing body for National 
Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) on a regional level. The  Government of Ghana , as a 
contracting party , is required to establish a national organisation for plant protection which will 
be responsible for:   Inspecting growing plan ts, areas under cultivation  and their products  as well 
as preventing the spread across national borders of pests and plant diseases . “Phytosanitary 
certificates”  can also be issued by this national organisation. In Ghana the Plant Protection and 
Regulatory  Services Directorate (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (M OFA) is 
the national plant protection organisation that has been established in accordance with the 
provisions of the IPPC . In compliance with the IPPC, the PPRSD aims to prevent the s pread and 
introduction of pests of plants and plant products and to promote appropriate measures for their 
control.  
3.1.1.2 Office Internationale des Epizooties  (OIE)  
The OIE also known as World Organisation for Animal Health , created through the Internat ional 
Agreement signed on January 25, 1924, is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for 
improving animal health worldwide  and is  recognised as a reference organisation by the World 
Trade Organization (WTO). The OIE is responsible for setting inte rnational animal health and 
welfare standards, which cover among others, disease diagnosis, reporting and management, 
health measures for international trade in animals and animal products and standards for the 
                                                           
3 The Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  is an international treaty  of the World Trade  
Organization , negotiated during the Uruguay Round  of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , and entered 
into force with the establishment of t he WTO at the beginning of 1995.  DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 24 humane transportation and slaughter of animal s. Ghana actively participated in the development 
of these Codes and standards and is required to comply with them. These standards are designed  
to ensure the sanitary safety of international trade in animals and animal  products by detailing 
the health mea sures to be used by the veterinary services of importing and exporting countries ,. 
The measures are also meant to avoid the transfer of pathogenic or zoonotic agents without 
imposing unjustified trade restrictions.   
Under section 108 of the Public Health A ct it is indicated that the Veterinary Service Department 
shall in collaboration with the FDA carry out meat inspection in slaughter houses. Regulations 
are to be enacted under the Act to provide further details on how they are to go about  their work.  
3.1.1.3 Codex Alimentarius Commission   
 
The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), established by FAO and WHO in 1963, is the 
foremost body recognised internationally for the development of food standards to ensure food 
safety. The Commission’s mandate is to de velop harmonised international food standards, 
guidelines and codes of practice to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair trade practices 
in the food trade. The Commission also promotes coordination of all work on food standards and 
food safety un dertaken by international, governmental and non -governmental organizations.  
In carrying out Codex work, the Commission has established a number of committees to work on 
general and specific aspects of Codex work. Codex Regional Coordinating Committees have  
been established to discuss regional food standards issues and work towards more effective 
utilization of Codex work in developing and developed countries. At the national levels, National 
Codex Committees (NCCs), pursue the objectives of the Commission a nd make inputs towards 
the work of the Commission.  
(i) National Codex Committee (NCC) : The National Codex Committee (NCC)  is a 
consultative group to the Government of Ghana on food safety issues and matters related to 
CODEX. It was set up in Ghana about fo ur (4) decades ago and re -established in February 20 02, 
and has a multi -sectoral representation . The NCC provides a forum for discussions on food 
safety issues and for the formulation of the national position(s) and responses to proposals or 
policies of th e Codex Alimentarius Commission among other functions . The membership of the 
NCC includes : representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Food and Agriculture,  
Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Ministry o f Justice 
and Attorney General’s Department, Ghana Standards Authority, Food and Drugs Authority , 
Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana Exp ort Promotion Auth ority, Plant Protection and 
Regulatory Services Directorate, Fis heries Commission, Nutrition  Depar tment and Family 
Health Directorate of MOH, Ghana Cocoa Board, Food Research Institute (CSIR), Department 
of Nutrition  and Food Science, University of Ghana, WHO  Country Office for Ghana, 
Association of Ghana  Industries,  the Consumers’ Association of Ghan a (CAG)  and Food Safety 
Experts . The representatives of these organizations participate regularly in NCC meetings and 
Codex activities.  
 DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 25 The NCC has established Codex S ub-Committees o n subject matters that contribute to the 
preparation  and formulation of national positions on draft C odex standards and related texts .4 
The Codex Contact Point in Ghana is located in the Ghana Standards Authority , which is the 
Secretariat  for the NCC . It coordinates the work of the NCC. Ghana was the Coordinator for  the 
Codex Commission for Africa (CCAFRICA) for two consecutive occasions . 
 
3.1.2 Regional legal context  
Reference has already been made to the FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committee  for 
Africa (CCAFRICA) , which has been set up to define the needs of the re gion conc erning food 
standards and food control. It recommends to the CAC the development of worldwide standards 
for products of interest to the Region. It develops regional standards for food products moving 
exclusively in intra regional trade and works towards mo re effective utilization of CODEX work 
within the region as well as the RPPO.  
In addition a s a member of the African Union , NEPAD and the Econ omic Community for West 
Africa (ECOWAS) , Ghana has obligations to comply with food safety standards set by these 
organisations. The Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources is one of the key institutions 
within the  region addressing food safety. The African Union Commission also makes directives 
on food safety from time to time. Another key instrument is Regulation C /REG. 6/09, 2010 on the 
Harmonisation of the Structural  framework and operational rules pertaining to the Health Safety 
of Plants, Animals and Foods in the ECOWAS Region. It seeks to set up a regiona l legal 
framework for harmonisa tion of national legislatio ns in the area of phytosanitary, zoo sanitary 
and food safety, in line with international h ealth requirements. This is to contribute to improved 
trading in animals and food commodities in the community as well as their regional international 
trade.  This EC OWAS Regulati on clearly specifies the lead role the Vet erinary Services is to play 
in Sanitary and Phytosanitary issues.    
3.2 NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT  
Ghana has a legislative and institutional framework on food safety and food standards. The 
policy s eeks to stimulate the enactment, amendment and streamlining of existing legislation on 
food safety in areas of production, storage, handling, processing, preservation, trade, 
transportation and marketing.  
 
The laws identified which have been discussed in the summary of the situational analysis  on 
food safety in section 2 were categorised under the following headings: Legislative Framework 
on Food Safety ; Legislative Framework on food Standards;  Legislative Framework on 
Controlling Pests affecting Plants and  Plant Products ; and Legislative Framework on Health and 
Safety of Animals and Animal Products . Box 1 provides the list of laws relevant for food safety 
and standards. There is the need to address the gaps and overlaps identified in the laws reviewed.   
 
                                                           
4 Source: Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, Codex Alimentarius Commission, Twenty -eighth Session , 
Italy, 4 – 9 July 2005; Report of the Sixteenth Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Africa.  DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 26 Box 1: List of laws and Regulations with a bearing on food safety  and standards : 
 
Legislative framework on Food Safety  
 Public Healt h Act, 2012 (Act 851)  
 Tourism Act, 2011 (Act 817)  
 Local Government Act, 1992 (Act 462) and Establishment Instruments for  
Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assemblies  
Legislative framework on Food Standards  
 Standards Authority Act, 1973 (N.R.C.D 173)  
 Ghana Standards (Certification Marks) Rules, 1970 (L.I. 662)  
 Ghana Standards (Certification Marks) (Amendment Rules), 1970 (L.I. 664 )  
 Ghana Standards Board (Amendment) Decree, 1979 (A.F.R.C.D. 44)  
 Ghana Standards Board (Food, Drugs and Other Goods) General Labeling 
Rules, 1992 (L.I. 1541)  
 Weights and Measures Decree , 1975 (N .R.C.D. 326)   
 Weights and Measures (Amendment) Law, 1992 (P .N.D.C.L. 301) 
Legislative Framework on Controlling Pests affecting Plants  
 Environmental Protection Agency Act , 1994 (Act 490) 
 Plants and Fertilizers Act, 2010 (Act 803)  
Legislative Framework on Health and Safety of Animals and Animal Products   
 Animals (Co ntrol of Importation) Act, No. 36 of 1952  
 Diseases of Animals Act, 1961 (Act 83)  
 Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1992, (P .N.D.C.L. 305C)   
 Fisheries Act, 2003 (Act 625)   
 Fisheries Regulations, 2010 (L.1. 1968)  
 Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851)  
 
 
 
3.3 EXISTING GU IDELINES AND POLICIES TOUCHING ON FOOD SAFETY   
 
A number of national policies and programmes instituted by various sectors and agencies that 
touch on food and food safety were identified in the Report of the Situational Analysis as well as 
their gaps and c hallenges. Box 2 outlines a number of national policies that link with or impacts 
the National Food Safety Policy.  Whilst the National Food Safety Policy will serve as the main 
driver of food safety interventions, it has not been designed and will not be implemented in a 
vacuum. The National Health Policy provides the overarching framework from which this 
National Food Safety Policy is drawn. Recognition is also made of the fact that many other 
national policies exist and are being implemented  and some may  help o perationali se specific 
aspects of the National Food Safety Policy whilst others will compli ment it by addressing other 
critical determinant factors .   
 DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 27 Box 2: Policies and strategies that complement the National Food Safety Policy  
 National Health Po licy 
 Food and Agriculture  Sec tor development  Policy  II 
 Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy  
 Environmental Sanitation Policy  
 Ghana Trade Policy  
 Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy  
 Ghana Shared Growth  and Development Agenda  
 Revised Food Safety Action Plan  
 Nation al Nutrition Policy   
 
 
4.0 NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY POLICY STATEMENT   
 
The N ational Food Safety Policy  statement is indicated below.  
 
4.1 VISION   
 
The vision of the National Food Safety Policy is a well -coordinated and  structured food safety 
system that clearly outlines the role s of all relevant stakeholders for the management and control 
of food safety .  
 
4.2 GOAL  
 
The goal of the National Food Safety Policy is to bring coordination into the regulation of food 
safety and define the role of stakeholders to ensure public health and trade in food . 
 
4.3 POLICY OBJECTIVES   
 
The specific objectives of the National Food Safety Policy are as follows:  
 
1) To establish a mechanism  for coordinating food safety related activities in Ghana  by 
ensur ing harmonisation and inst itutional cooperation among relevant stakeholders.  
 
2) To continuously review or amend when necessary existing legislation and regulations on 
food safety  to promote harmonization and synergy of legislation.  
 
3) To enact new laws deemed necessary to promote food  safety.  
 
4) To strengthen the food borne diseases surveillance system including early warning and 
crises management  mechanisms.  
 
5) To coordinate and strengthen existing laboratories and establish new laboratories deemed 
necessary to ensure food safety . 
 DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 28 6) To en sure the provision of appropriate facilities and infrastructure for effective food 
safety management.  
 
7) To strengthen  the mechanism for the provision of  food safety information, education and 
communication . 
 
8) To develop human capacity along the food safety v alue chain.  
 
9) To encourage the use of Food Safety Management systems . 
 
 
5.0 GUIDING PRINCIPLES  
 
The National Food Safety Policy covers the laws, institutions, systems, and organisations and 
how they interact to ensure national food safety. The policy also recognises the development 
objectives of Ghana as well as international guidelines and conventions which Ghana has 
ratified.  
 
The following guiding principles underpin this National Food Safety Policy : 
 
1) Inter-sectorial collaboration and coordination  – There is the need for collaboration 
among the various sectors that have a role to play in food safety. The 
collaboration should be well coordinated to ensure efficiency  
 
2) Stakeholder participation at all levels  of the integrated “farm to table ” context  – 
The objective of reduced risk can be achieved most effectively by the principle of 
prevention throughout the production, processing and marketing chain. Food 
safety requires all players involved along the food chain to recognise their 
primary responsibility a nd share a common goal of assuring the safety of food 
along the food chain . 
 
3) Equity  and fairness at all levels of the value chain  – There is the need for 
transparency in decision making processes in the food control system . 
Stakeholders need to be given th e opportunity to make contributions.   
 
4) Evidence based approach  -  Addressing food safety adequately requires the need 
for evidence based approach. There is the need for risk assessment to 
scientifically evaluate known or potential adverse health effects re sulting from 
exposure to food -borne harzards . There are four components of risk assessment 
and these are hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposiure assessment 
and risk characterisation. There is also the need for the development of science 
based strategies.  
 DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 29 5) Efficiency  of systems  – Systems put in place to ensure food safety should be 
efficient . An effective food control system will require that Ministries, 
Departments and Agencies will have to rethink their roles and allow the 
development of a system that will bring efficiency in the development of policy 
options, technical approaches and operational activities.  
 
6) Ensuring t raceability  through effective surveillance  – An efficient food safety 
system requires the implementation of surveillance f or diseases of public health 
importance .  
 
7) Precautionary principle.   
 
6.0 POLICY MEASURES  
 
The National Food Safety Policy provides policy directions and guidance on food safety. It will 
seek to promote and guide adequate research, training, monitoring and  food borne disease 
surveillance activities of the sector. The focus areas that will direct the work of ensuring food 
safety are indicated below.  
 
6.1 FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH   
 
Demand driven research on food safety will be promoted. Coordination of research in various 
institutions will be encouraged to avoid duplication of research activities. In addition, a 
repository on food safety research and surveillance reports will be created and findings made 
readily available. A food safety research entity will be cr eated to promote coordination and 
evaluation of food safety research.  
 
6.2 FOOD -BORNE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE  
 
Surveillance on food borne disease  will be strengthened including laboratory capacities to detect, 
identify and analyse chemical and microbiologica l hazards. Food -borne disease outbreak 
investigation and response will also be strengthened including the establishment of early warning 
mechanisms to prevent outbreaks. Data storage analysis for risk trending will be established.  
 
6.3 INSPECTION AND ENFOR CEMENT  
 
The capacity for inspection and enforcement of food protection measures throughout the food 
chain will be strengthened.  
 
6.4 FOOD SAFETY TRAINING   
 
Training on food safety will be promoted at all levels of the food chain. This will include 
refresh er courses on food safety to appropriate personnel. Guidelines will be developed to 
enhance knowledge and capacity building on food safety and a national accreditation system for DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 30 food safety trainers as well as certification system.  Human resource developm ent, which seeks to 
ensure that the requisite capacity (including adequate number of personnel) is built to carry out 
the essential functions of the sector.  
 
6.5 FOOD SAFETY PUBLIC EDUCATION   
 
There will be sustained dissemination of information on food s afety to targeted individuals and 
the general public. Guidelines will be developed for  the promotion of public education, 
information and communication  on food safety . Food safety education will be incorporated into 
the formal education curricula from prim ary school through to university.  The capacities of food 
control authorities in the area of risk communication  will be strengthened  by developing risk 
communication  strategies and enhancing the expertise and skills of food safety professionals .  
 
6.6  CON SUMER PROTECTION  
 
Consumer associations have been set up in Ghana that are involved in advocacy on food safety. 
The role of consumer associations in ensuring accountability of industries with regard to food 
safety, the dissemination of information related to food safety and in the implementation of 
national food safety programmes will be promoted. Consume r complaints will be documented,   
mapped and feedback given.  
 
6.7 REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE CONTROL OF FOOD SAFETY   
 
The inadequate coordination and lack of formalised networking between the  existing regulatory 
framework in relation to food safety will be addressed. Current laws and regulations pertinent to 
food safety will be reviewed, revised or updated and, where appropriate, new laws will be 
enacted to  address emerging issues.  The revised laws will be in conformity with national and 
international standards on food safety.     
 
6.8 REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION  
 
Ghana will continue to b e a part of international initiatives on food safety  by ensuring 
appropriate representation at all international fora and implementing agreed upon standards 
locally.  
 
 
7.0 IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK/STRATEGY  
 
The Government will implement the policy by developing a comprehensive national plan of 
action on food s afety. Developing this plan will provide an important step towards ensuring that 
the actions outlined in the policy are addressed systematically and effectively.  
The national plan of action on food safety will also embrace performance measures for the 
actions and initiatives outlined in this policy, which can then be used to gauge the overall 
progress towards an effective and efficient food safety management system in Ghana. The DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 31 development of the action plan will commence upon validation and adoptio n of th e food safety 
policy.  
Strategies by Government to achieve objectives of the National Food Safety P olicy are indicated 
below : 
Policy objective 1: To establish a mechanism  for coordinating food safety related activities 
in Ghana  by ensur ing harmonisation an d institutional cooperation among relevant 
stakeholders.  
 
Strategic actions:  
(i) Set up a n effective inter-ministerial  food safety coordinating  committee at t he FDA as a 
mechanism to  coordinate and oversee all food safety and control activities in the cou ntry 
in collaboration with other stakeholders . This Committee will have the  responsibility for 
coordinating  all aspects of food safety  including research, training/education/information, 
disease surveillance , meat inspection, inspection and licensing of f ood joints as well as 
markets among others . 
(ii) Identify relevant private standards and where possible harmonise them with national 
standards to ensure that food from Ghana have access to  the global market.  
(iii) Establish a standard format for licences i ssued to food and meat handlers.  
 
Policy objective 2: To continuously review or amend when necessary existing legislation 
and regulations on food safety  to promote harmonization and synergy of legislation . 
 
Strategic actions:  
(i) Amend and h armonise the legi slation  of stakeholder institutions including those of 
Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure there are no overlaps of mandate and 
functions.  
(ii) Review the legislation that deals with food safety to remove all overlaps  and/or gaps . 
(iii)Put in measures  to improve  enforcement of legislation and regulations on food safety.  
(iv) Amend when necessary existing laws to be consistent with national and  international 
standards .  
(v) Ensure that a provision on food safety is inse rted into the  1992 Constitution as pa rt of the  
Constitutional review process.  
 
Policy objective 3: To enact new laws deemed necessary to promote food safety.  
Strategic actions:  
(i) Enact legislation to ensure effective coordination of national food safety issues and repeal 
or amend existing legislation , like the laws on standards and food ,  to streamline the food 
control system.  
(ii) Enact other legislation including appropriate Legislative Instruments or regulations 
deemed necessary to promote food safety control of street foods, regulation of pesticide 
manag ement and primary production . 
(iii)Complete the various draft laws on food safety to clearly spell out the roles of each 
institution and what  collaborations need to be put in place.  
(iv) Identify other priority areas for action and the drafting of the necessary imp lementing 
regulations.  DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 32 Policy objective 4:  To strengthen the  food borne diseases surveillance system including 
early warning  and crises management  mechanisms.  
 
Strategic actions:  
(i) Strengthen the existing food-borne disease  surveillance system including a le gal 
framework to  document , trace  and share timely and effectively with stakeholder s, problems 
arising from food safety issues5 and ensure that it is intergrated into the existing national 
health surveillance system   
(ii) Establish a  food-borne disease  surveilla nce network  and early warning  system which 
involve s population -based active surveillance for laboratory confirmed infections.  
 
Policy objective 5: To coordinate and strengthen existing laboratories to ensure food safety . 
 
Strategic actions:  
(i) Strengthen the capacity of existing laboratories as part of the food borne  disease 
monitoring  system.   
(ii) Establish  well equipped accredited laboratories as part of the food safety surveillance  
system . 
 
Policy objective 6:  To ensure the provision of appropriate in frastructure for effective food 
safety management.  
  
Strategic actions:  
(i) Establish a mechanism  to ensure that n ew food facilities are  established with the approval 
of appropriate institutions.  
(ii) Ensure existing food facilities are brought into compl iance with relevant standards set .  
(iii) Ensure the provision of appropriate infrastructure, including clean water and sanitary 
facilities in areas such as food joints, markets, and singeing facilities etc  
(iv) Ensure the provision of appropriate means of  transportation  and storage  along the food 
chain . 
(v) Establish an effective monitoring system to ensure proper maintenance  of the 
infrast ructure. 
 
Policy objective 7: To strengthen  the mechanism  for the provision of  food safety 
information, education and communication . 
 
Strategic actions:  
(i) Promote , encourage and coordinate the education of consumers on food safety by key 
stakeholders.  
(ii) Build partnerships and links with existing health education programmes including 
integration into nutrition and foo d security programmes.  
                                                           
5 This could  be done by a dopting the sys tem of the United  States of Amer ica where a legal framework exists for 
food surveillance which lies in the state public health epidemiology offices which then shares data with the Centre 
for Disease Control  
 DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 33 (iii) Establish an effective consumer complaint handling system that keeps track of 
complaints and gives feedback.  
 
Policy objective 8: To develop human capacity along the food safety value chain.  
 
Strategic actions:  
(i) Develop hum an capacity along the food safety value chain  by encouraging training of 
food handlers  and to ensure the continual upgrading of skills of food professionals 
through in -service training programmes.  
(ii) Include food safety in the curricular of schools from primary to higher education.  
(iii) Ensure a review of training institutions’ capacity in terms of training of key competencies 
required as well as review of curricula.  
(iv) Encourage  certification of trained personnel by relevant  institutions . 
 
Policy obje ctive 9: To encourage the use of Food Safety Management systems  
 
Strategic actions:  
(i) Sensitize stakeholders on Food Safety Management Systems in Ghana like HACCP, 
GMP, GAP  and ISO 22000 . 
(ii) Encourage the utilisation  of Food Safety Management Systems . 
 
 
8.0 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT S FOR IMPLEMENTING THE POLICY    
 
In designing the various strategies for implementation of the National Food Safety Policy, 
various stakeholders at different levels have to be involved in ensuring successful 
implementation.  
 
The key stakeholders at the local level are the consumers of food made up of families and 
individuals of all sexes and ages in Ghana and consumers in countries to which food is exported 
from Ghana. At the community level it includes community leaders as w ell as community based 
organisations including farmer groups, transportation unions/organisations and other civil society 
organisations. It also includes private sector actors.  
 
At the level of state institutions several Ministries Departments and Agencies   which will be 
indicated below have a role to play as well as MMDAs, Parliament and the Judiciary.  It also 
includes academia, research institutions and training institutions.  
 
Stakeholders at the international level include development partners as well a s international 
organisations, which have set standards on food safety that Ghana as a state party is required to 
comply with.  
 
Food safety affects everyone and has implications for public health and the well being of 
individuals and groups. It also affect s livelihoods and the productivity of the nation and therefore 
to respond effectively, it is important to bring all stakeholders on board to ensure that strategies 
have the designed effect through a coordinated approach.  DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 34 8.1  NATIONAL COORDINATING BODY AND  IMPLEMENTATION 
STRUCTURES  
Various sectors have a role to play in promoting food safety. Institutional structures must provide 
for effective inter -ministerial coordination to adequately provide support to the National Food 
Safety Policy. To ensure effecti ve coordination of activities, structure s are  outlined for key 
stakeholders with regard to the coordination of food safety activities.  
 
The lead agency for the coordination of food safety activities in Ghana is the Food and Drugs 
Authority under the Minist ry of Health set up by the Public Health Act , 2012 (Act 851) . Under 
Section 82 of the Public Health Act it  has the responsibility to monitor other agencies of state to 
ensure compliance with provisions on food safety under the Public Health Act. Relevant 
Ministries, Departments, A gencies and other stakeholders  also have important roles to play in 
ensuring good food hygiene and safety practices to achieve the objective s of this policy.  There is 
therefore  the need for a mechanism to promote effective collabor ation between them and the 
proper delineation of roles and responsibilities  to ensure effective coordination . In addition, there 
is a need to  ensur e effective communication and cooperation between the numerous  Ministries, 
Department and A gencies as well as  other organisations involved in food safety within the 
context of a coherent national programme.  
 
A National Food Safety Coordinating Committee will  be set up at the Food and Drugs Authority 
to enable all relevant stakeholders listed in 8.2 below to coll aborate in the implementation of the 
National Food Safety Policy.  
8.2 ROLE OF VARIOUS SECTORS IN PROMOTING FOOD SAFETY  
 
8.2.1. Public sector institutions including Ministrie s, Departments and Agencie s 
 
(i) Role of the Ministry of Health  
• Coordinate implementati on of National Food Safety Policy  through the F ood and Drug 
Authority . 
• Adopt and elaborate national food safety s trategies . 
• Mobilize partners and resources to support activities related to research, advocacy,  and 
coordination  of food safety program mes. 
• Through facilities under the Ghana H ealth Service’s National Disease Surveillance Unit 
(NDSU) contribute towards the early warning system  for disease control .   
• Develop communication and advocacy strategies for food safety . 
• Leadership for integration of food safety in other health programs (HIV/AIDS, Maternal  
and child health  etc.) 
• Reinforce food-borne disease surveillance system in collaboration with other relevant 
ministr ies and agencies  and contribute to an effective system under the National Food 
Safety Po licy. 
• Prepare drafting instructions for the enactment of Regulations under  Part 7 of the Public 
Health  Act. DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 35 • Ensure that agencies under the Ministry like t he FD A provide technical support for the  
implementation of the  National Food Safety Policy by monitori ng the manufacture, 
importation, exportation, distribution, use and advertisement of foods  among others.  
 
(ii) Role of Ministry of Trade and Industry (M OTI)  
• Collaborate with the coordination body for national food safety by e nsuring quality 
standar ds in the ex portation and importation of food . 
• Through the GSA , promulgate  standards with the object ive of ensuring safe and quality 
food produced in Ghana  and a good Food Safety Management System . 
• Through the work of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority sensitise exp orters on the  
National Food Safety Policy.  
• Leadership in integration of food safety in existing programmes including the Ghana 
Trade Policy’s thematic are a of Consumer Protection and Fair Trade.  
• Contribute to the food-borne disease surveillance system under the National Food Safety 
Policy.  
 
(iii)Role of Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD)  
• Collaborate with the coordination body for national food safety by e nsuring that MMDAs 
implement food control and safety standards  under the National F ood Safety Policy  at the 
local level through their Environmental Health Officers . 
• Leadership for integration of food safety in other program mes including environmental 
health.  
• Leadership in integration of food safety in environm ental sanitation programmes 
including the work of the National Environ mental Sanitation Policy Coordi nation 
Council.  
• Contribute to the food-borne disease surveillance system under the National Food Safety  
Policy.  
 
(iv) Role of Ministry of Food and Agriculture (M OFA) 
• Contribute to the Nat ional Food Safety Policy by providing technical support for c rop, 
pest and d isease management.  
• Be responsible for the work of the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate 
(PPRSD) to issue phytosanitory permits and certificates for plant imports . 
• Fisheries Department should be responsible for  monitoring activities related to the 
fisheries industry subject to existing protocols.   
• Veterinary Services Department should be responsible for monitoring of foods of animal 
origin. They should be involved in controlling importation of animals  and imposing 
restrictions on the movement of registered animals in and out of infected areas . 
• Ensure that women involved in the food value chain are sensitized on the National Food 
Safety Policy through the Women in Agriculture Development (WIAD) programme.   
• Be responsible for preventing and controlling the spread of infectious and contagious 
diseases among animals by declaring a district, area or place to be an infected area where 
a disease breaks out in an area.  
• Leade rship for integration of food safety in existing programmes including the Food 
Safety Action Plan with regard to plants and animals.  DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 36 • Contribute to the food-borne disease surveillance system under the National Food Safety 
Policy.  
 
(v) Role of Ministry of Enviro nment Science and Technology (MEST)  
• Monitor pesticide use and control in food production  and environmental protection . 
• Leadership for integration of food safety in other existing environmental program mes 
including the work of the Harzardous Chemicals Commi ttee. 
• Environmental Protection Inspectors at the EPA should undertake their mandates on 
environmental protection and pesticide control and regulation . 
• CSIR should continue to undertake research on food related issues.    
• Contribute to the food-borne disease  surveillance system under the National Food Safety  
Policy.  
 
(vi) Role of Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (M OFEP)   
• Make budgetary allocation to facilitate the work of the National Food Safety Authority.  
• Provide other funds necessary to ensure the pre paration and implementation of the action  
plan to implement the National Food Safety Policy.  
• Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) under MOFEP should continue to 
monitor the export and import of foods .  
 
(vii)Role of Ministry of Education (MOE)  
• Include in curriculum for pupils and students education on food safety.  
• Ensure that training facilities on food safety have programmes to educate trainees  on the  
National Food Safety Policy .  
• Comply with the certification system s in place . 
• Contribute to the implementation of the information education and communication part 
of the National Food Safety Policy and action plan to implement i t.  
 
(viii) Role of Ministry of Tourism  
• The Ghana Tourism Authority  should integrate its programme with that of the National 
Food S afety Coordinating  Committee  to promote food safety within the tourism industry .  
• Contribute to the food-borne disease surveillance system under the National Food S afety 
Policy  by furnishing appropriate information . 
 
(ix) Role of Ministry of Employment and Soci al Welfare  
• Comply with the National Food Safety Policy by ensuring that workers seeking for 
employment within the food industry are trained and certified under the appropriate 
certification system s in place .  
 
(x) Role of Ministry of Works, Housing and Water R esources  
• Ensure compliance with the National Food Safety Policy by ensuring policies and 
programmes to ensure access to good drinking water  for communities .  
• Contribute to the food-borne disease surveillance system under the National Food Safety 
Policy by furnishing appropriate information . 
 
(xi) Role of Ministry of Interior  DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 37 • Ensure that its policies are in line with the National Food Safety  Policy . 
• Ensure that the Ghana Police Service help s in ensuring compliance with the work of 
agencies .  
• Contribute to the food-borne disease surveillance system under the National Food Safety 
Policy by furnishing appropriate information.  
 
(xii) Role of Ministry of Justice and Attorney Generals Department  
• Prepare Legislative Instrument  (Regulations)  for Part 7 of the Public Health Act . 
• Prepare other bills deemed necessary to ensure food safety.  
 
(xiii) Role of Independent Commissions :  
(a) Water Resources Commission  
• Collaborate with the National Food Safety  Coordinating  Committee  by ensuring 
compliance with its directives in issuing licenses for the use of water bodies.  
• Contribute to the food-borne disease surveillance system under the National Food Safety 
Policy by furnishing appropriate information.  
(b) National Development Planning Commission  
• Formulate national development policies that take into c onsideration the National Food 
Safety Policy and issues arising from it.  
(c) Ghana Atomic Energy Commission /BNARI  
• Collaborate with the National Food Safety Coordinating  Committee  by undertaking 
research into food storage systems.  
 
(xiv)Role of Research institu tions  
• Collaborate with the National Food Safety Coordinating  Committee  by furnishing it with 
results of research on food safety.  
• Contribute to the food-borne disease surveillance system under the National Food Safety 
Policy by furnishing appropriate inform ation.  
 
8.2.2 Role of the Judiciary  
• Ensure the enforcement of the Public Health  Act and other laws relating to food safety 
when such cases are taken to court.  
• Set up special courts to handle food safety related cases.  
 
8.2.3 Role of Parliament  
• Enact regul ations to implement the Public Health Act. 
• Enact other legislation deemed necessary to promote food safety in Ghana.  
• Through its oversight role hold the Executive accountable for effective implementation of 
the National Food Safety Policy and programmes e manating from it.  
 
8.2.4 Role of other Partners  
(a) The private sector  including industry  and farmer based organisations:  
• To support the work of the National Food Safety Coordinating  Committee . 
• To organise training programmes for its members o n food safety.  
• To repor t non-compliance with the National Food Safety Policy to relevant authorities . 
 DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 38 (b) Consumers  including consumer associations  
• The consumers will be the eye and ears of the food -borne  disease surveillance system 
under the National Food Safety Policy by furnishing appropriate information  and 
complaints . 
 
(c) Development partners  
• To support the implementation of the National Food Safety Policy . 
• To support the work of the National Food Safety Coordinating  Committee . 
 
(d) Civil society organisations   
• To particip ate in the implementation of the National Food Safety Policy to ensure the 
promotion of food safety in the planting , transportation, marketing, export and 
consumption of food products.  
• To comply with the directives of the National Food Safety Coordinating  Committee . 
 
8.2.5  Collaborating Agencies  
The collaborating agencies shall be the key M inistries Departments and Agencies  that have a key 
role to play in ensuring food safety as follows:  
 Ministry of Health – FDA, Ghana Health Service  
 Ministry of Trade and I ndustry – GSA, G hana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA)  
 Ministry of Food and Agriculture  – PPRSD, Women in Agricultural Development 
(WIAD ), Veterinary Service Department , Fisheries Department .  
 Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development ( MLGRD ) - MMDAs 
 Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology ( MEST ) – EPA,  CSIR   
 Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning ( MOFEP ) - CEPS  
 Ministry of Education  – Universities, Secondary  Schools, Polytechnics , Technical 
Schools  
 Ministry of Tourism  – Ghana Tourist Au thority.  
 Water Resources Commission  
 Ghana Atomic Energy Commission - BNARI  
 Other research  institutions    
 National Codex Committee  
 
8.2.6  Ensuring institutional responsibility along the value chain  
 
The role of various institutions along the value chain inc luding – Production, Harvesting, Post 
harvest storage, Processing, Distribution, Storage, Marketing, Food service operation and 
consumption – are clearly identified as follows:  
 
(i) Local Productions, Animals and Crops – MOFA Departments and Agencies; Input 
dealers -Agro -chemicals, Feed Millers; Directorates of MOFA including the Fisheries 
Commission; Imported Agro -Produce; Irrigation Development Authority, Ministry of 
Environment , Science and Technology ; GSA .   
 
(ii) Harvesting – MOFA ; GSA;  Private sector (machinery  operations and farmers).  
 DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 39 (iii) Post Harvest Storage - Dry storage of agro products –MOFA; Cold storage facilities;  
GSA;  FDA; Ghana Atomic Energy Commission ; Private Sector (Farmers, Traders) etc.  
 
(iv) Processing – MOH; MOFA -Grain, Root and Tubers; FD A; MOTI; GS A; Private sector; 
Universities; CSIR; Private laboratory services.  
 
(v) Distribution /Transportation – MOFA; Ministry of Interior -Ghana Police Service ; 
Ministry of Finance , Customs Excise and Preventive Service ; GSA; Private Sector; 
Ministry of Roads and Tra nsport.  
 
(vi) Storage - Private Sector; Local Government; FD A; GSA; EPA, MOFA -pack houses.  
 
(vii) Marketing – FDA; GSA; Local Government; Environmental Health Officers (EHO); 
marketing operations; MOFA - Vete rinary Services, PPRSD.  
 
(viii) Food Service Operations and House hold Consumption – FDA; GSA; MLGRD -MMDAs;  
Private Sector; MOFA -Women in Agricultural Development ; Ghana Tourism Authority .  
 
(ix) Imported Food Products – Pre-packaged , FDA, GSA, CEPS, MOFA -PPRSD & 
Veterinary Services Directorate for poultry.  
 
(x) Export of food p roducts – GSA; FDA; CEPS; GEPA.   
 
(xi) Meat inspection – Meat Inspectors of Vete rinary Services Directorate  of MOFA ; 
Environmental Health Officers of MMDAs ; GSA  and FD A.    
 
(xii) Standards for Food Safety – FDA, GSA together with relevant institutions.  
 
(xiii) Science ba sed Research in Food Safety – CSIR  and Universities .  
 
(xiv) Food -Borne Disease  Surveillance  – MOH, FD A, GHS ; EPA  and MOFA . 
 
(xv) Consumer protection  – Consumer protection groups and individual consumers.  
 
(xvi) Information, Education,  Communication  – All rel evant MDAs, MMDAs, training 
institutions  and consumer protection groups . 
 
All these stakeholders will be required to collaborate with the National Food Safety Coordinating 
Committee  in their area of focus in promoting the National Food Safety Policy.  
 
 
9.0 MONITORING AND EVALUATION   
 
Monitoring and evaluation is an important part of policy formulation and implementation 
process. A Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Sub-Committee of the National Food  DRAFT  – 31/05/2013  
 
 
 40 Safety Coordinati ng Committee  will be responsible for overall m onitoring and evaluation of the 
Policy implementation. Periodic reports on programme implementation shall be published . 
 
Mechanisms for assessing the effectiveness and performance of the Policy are:  
 
(i) Develop ment of  agency -specific indicators.  
 
(ii) Reports to b e submitted to the  National Food Safety Coordinating  Committee  on regular 
basis.  
 
(iii)Access to information to al l stakeholders.  
  
All collaborating institutions will be expected to set up  a  monitoring and evaluation system  for 
food safety in accordance wi th system prescribed by the National Food Safety Coordinating 
Committee .  
 
 
10.0 FUNDING MECHANISM  
 
Adequate  budgetary allocation from government shall be made available for  the implementation 
of the policy .