Food vendors, drinking and chop bar operators who do not have valid health certificate will be arrested and prosecuted.

The public health task force of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) have been directed to undertake inspection of certificates and arrest offenders to be prosecuted.

Mr. Emmanuel Akrofi Bruce Acting Director of the Public Health Department of the AMA said this action had become necessary following the World Health Organisation (WHO's) urbanisation report on Ghana, which shows an increase in the rural-urban migration from 3.1 per cent in 1984 to 7.5 per cent last year.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday, Mr. Bruce said from the point of view of the report, the migration continues to pose serious challenges to the assembly.

He said the pressure this exerts on the already inadequate facilities required measures to prevent the outbreak of diseases arising from overcrowding in the metropolis.

Mr. Bruce said purified sachet water companies, hotels, restaurants, drinking bars, food vendors as well as other traders who deal directly with the public are required by law to undergo medical examination.

He said medical forms for the examination are obtainable from the offices of the Ministry of Health at Adjabeng.