Accra, Oct. 7, GNA - The Metropolitan Public Health Department of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has put in place stringent measures to ensure that butchers, food sellers, hotels and restaurants observe basic and environmental sanitary condition in the Accra Metropolis as part of the activities towards CAN 2008 tournament to be hosted in the country.

Mr. James Charway Aryeetey, AMA Director of Public Health, who made this known to the GNA when the National Chief Butcher, Alhaji Sofo Zakari called on him on Wednesday said, under the programme, butchers would submit lists of their members in Accra for the issuance of butchers license, while food service operators of hotels and restaurants would go through medical examination before operating.

He said the exercise, which was being undertaken by the AMA was in the interest of food handlers and the public and urged those who had already gone through the screening to come for their certificates to avoid arrest and prosecution.

He said the screening, already in progress for hotels, restaurants and food handlers would be pursued with renewed vigour while targets would be set and monitored to ensure that food for human consumption was not contaminated and did not produce health hazards with a view to improving the service facilities for tourism.

Mr Aryeetey said the choice of Ghana as venue for CAN 2008 football tournament, now demanded special programmes to give the metropolis a new look for its honoured role as host to the many distinguished delegations expected in the country for the programme. He said the laws against the rearing of animals within the metropolis would be strictly enforced while operators of commercial toilets would be asked to ensure cleanliness at their premises. Mr Aryeetey said government recognised the role food vendors play in the society hence the need for them to adjust positively to the present socio-economic situation in food preservation.

Alhaji Sofo Zakari, National Chief Butcher welcomed the issuance of butchers licence to their members to flush out the fake ones among them and urged the AMA to arrange a meeting with executives of the association to resolve the existing problems of slaughtering of animals at unauthorised places.

He said meat sold by their members in the various markets within the metropolis, are not in any way unwholesome, adding that officials from veterinary and the AMA examined the animals before permits were issued to them for slaughtering.

Alhaji Zakari said, since his office is charged to protect the interest of butchers in the country, he would ensure that illegal slaughtering of animals was discouraged.