The sanitation task force of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has uncovered a number of unhygienic methods by which fishmongers engage in washing their fishes prior to sending them to the market.
A visit by the Joy Clean Ghana Campaign team together with the Health Directorate of the AMA to the Jamestown fishing community revealed some of the fishes are washed with what is a ‘thick brown porridge-like’ solution.
That aside, the team discovered human excreta a few metres away from the fish-smoking oven while some unconcerned mongers proceeded to do their businesses in such unhygienic conditions.
Head of Public Health Department of the AMA, Florence Kuukyi, perplexed by the situation, attributed their negligence to improper attitude towards health and sanitation in the area.
People here are very difficult to change; to get them to do the right thing becomes a very big issue. If you do not take care, they will interfere with your work and even beat you, she explained.
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Additionally, leader of the Fishers Association, siding with the AMA’s claims said his community members were fond of disregarding their advice because they do not have mandate to put them in check.
We know of these unhealthy conditions but when we complain, our voices are not really heard. They don’t respect us because we are amongst them but if we are given the authority, we will be up to the task, he said.
Subsequently, the sanitation task force team served some fishers with a summon letter as others were cautioned to improve their health conditions.
In an attempt to avert the situation, the fisherfolks were invited to attend a sanitation health class organized by AMA.