FDA deploys team to markets to prevent sale of fish washed ashore at Osu

Authorities of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) have dispatched an inspection team to markets in parts of the capital, Accra following the washing ashore of some fish at the Osu Castle beach.

The team has been sent to monitor the Osu Mandela market in the Korle-Klottey Municipal Assembly, in particular.

This move, according to the FDA is to prevent the fish from entering the market for public consumption.

The FDA in a statement said, it has begun laboratory investigations to ascertain whether the said fish are good for consumption or not and as such, has warned the public against consuming any suspicious fish.

“To prevent the washed-ashore fish from entering into the food chain, FDA inspection teams have been dispatched to fish markets including the Osu Mandela market in the Korle-Klottey Municipal Assembly.”

“The FDA in collaboration with other state agencies have been engaged in investigating and addressing the matter of various species of fishes washed ashore on some beaches since Friday, 2nd April 2021. While laboratory investigations are ongoing, the Authority warns the general public to desist from
consuming the fish washed ashore in view of the potential risk to health and safety,” part of the statement read.

Some fish were found along the shores of the Osu Castle beach on Friday.

Similarly, over 80 mammals believed to be melon-headed whales were washed ashore at the Axim-Bewire beach in the Nzema East Municipality on Sunday.

This attracted many residents, some of whom picked them up either for consumption or for sale.
The Authority has also intensified its public education and sensitization on quality parameters and signs of contamination of fish in the fishing communities and fish markets.

FDA regional offices along the coastline in the Central and Volta regions have also been alerted and are replicating similar efforts in towns along the coast.

“In this regard, the general public is cautioned to be guided by the freshness of the eyes and redness of the gills of fish that they seek to purchase. The washed-ashore fish typically show signs of popped out and unclear eyes, dull colouration of gills, bloating around the abdominal areas and/or possible oozing of foul scented fluids,” the FDA further advised.

“The public is hereby advised to report all suspected cases of possession or selling of these washed-ashore fishes to the FDA or local authorities. The consuming public is also cautioned to be wary of both fresh and recently smoked fish which are being sold at unusually low prices,” it added.