Asamankese, Feb. 28, GNA - Maame Afuse, a food seller, has appeared before the Asamankese circuit court for operating in unhygienic surroundings. Afuse pleaded guilty and the court deferred sentence until March 11.

Mr Samuel Danso, the West Akyem Environmental and Sanitation Officer, prosecuting, told the court that Afuse sold rice and beans at Yaw Tanoh, a suburb of Asamankese. He said on January 23, an Environmental Health Officer on his usual rounds got to the premises where Afuse prepared and sold her food, and saw that the food was exposed to flies.

The prosecutor said refuse was also scattered on the premises, but Afuse could not explain why action should not be taken against her. Additionally, Afuse did not have a valid health certificate to enable her to continue in her business. She was therefore issued a mandatory notice to appear in the environmental health and sanitation unit, but she refused to honour the invitation. Criminal summons were therefore served on her to appear in court.