The Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Mr. Maxwel Kofi Jumah, has urged stakeholders in the salt industry to come out with workable strategies that would boost the consumption of iodated salt in the region and the country as a whole.

He said the sale of raw salt in the country must be banned by clamping down on those who are still in the business. These observations were made at the iodine disorders awareness day.

The theme for the occasion was "Asante, Eat Iodated Salt for Good Health." Jumah expressed the need for strict enforcement of all the legislations on the production and consumption of the product.

He urged Ghanaians to recognize and accept the use of only iodated salt to save the country the burdensome cost of iodine deficiency.

On his part, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. S. K. Boafo, stated that stunted growth as well as speech and hearing defects in children and defects in pregnancy can be avoided by regular intake of iodated salt from childhood.

"Iodine deficiency disorders have serious physical, social and economic impacts on the development of the nation and the highest priority to take effective measures of controlling and virtually eliminating these will improve the quality of life and the productive of the nation," he stressed.

According to the regional minister, the region chalked success by scoring the highest market availability of 90%, and 60% of utilization of iodated salts.

Boafo urged the producers to improve on the quality of the product to meet international standards and thus ensure good patronage.

The minister urged all stakeholders in the region to intensify education on iodated salt and prepare the grounds for enforcement of the Iodated Salt Act 523 come the year 2004.