Accra, Oct. 31, GNA - Khebab sellers in the Accra Metropolis have been given up to November 30 to ensure that they are medically screened and declared fit to enable them provide quality and hygienic services as part of preparations towards the Ghana 2008 tournament. Mr James Aryeetey, Director of Metro Public Health Department of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), gave the ultimatum at a meeting with Khebab sellers in Accra on Tuesday.

He said the exercise was to ensure that Khebab for human consumption was not contaminated and did not produce adverse health effects.

Mr Aryeetey said the AMA was making everything possible to solve food safety problem in the Metropolis, adding that health officers would go round to inspect the locations and premises of Khebab sellers and anyone found not to have a medical certificate would be arrested and prosecuted. He assured the public that stringent measures had been put in place to ensure that Khebab sellers observed basic personal and environmental hygiene.

Mr William Lomo Tettey, Officer in Charge of Food Hygiene of the AMA, expressed gratitude to the Khebab sellers and expressed the hope that their members would take the warning seriously to avoid embarrassment.

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