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Food safety system inaugurated at Ghana Oil Palm
Development Company
Kwae (ER), Nov. 3, Ghanadot/GNA
– A food safety management system based on the principles of
the World-wide Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)
has been inaugurated at Ghana Oil Palm Development Company (GOPDC)
at Kwae.
HAACP is a systematic approach for the identification,
evaluation and control of food hazards or contaminants that
could endanger the safety of food for human consumption and
other uses.
Mr Kwadwo Affram-Asiedu, Eastern Regional Minister, in an
address read on his behalf said consumers expected to be
protected from hazards that occurred along the entire food
chain.
He noted that protection would however, only occur if all
sectors in the chain operated in an integrated manner and
food control systems addressed all stages in the chain.
Mr Affram-Asiedu said a food safety management system was a
requirement for all stakeholders in the food sector and
should be developed and implemented to accomplish the
assurance of safe food.
He said such a system should be assessed periodically to
assure its continued suitability, adequacy and
effectiveness.
Mr Affram-Asiedu noted that sanitation was a cornerstone not
only for food safety but also poverty reduction, boost
economic productivity and protecting investments made in
other sectors such as education and agriculture.
He urged Ghanaians never to underestimate the burden caused
by poor food safety, hygiene and diseases which caused
misery, impede productivity, strained health systems and
compromised investments in other sectors leading to poverty.
Mr Joseph Inkumsah, Managing Director of GOPDC, said
management in conducting its business, had been guided by
some principles voluntarily undertaken to become the
preferred supplier of high quality palm oil and its
derivatives.
He said GOPDC had been and continued to be an important
partner with other stakeholders in finding solutions to
climate change, erosion, deforestation, managing the
ecosystems and other environmental challenges.
Mr Inkumsah said GOPDC had an environmental management plan
and undertook environmental impact assessment, provided
employees with environment and safety training on regular
basis in collaboration with the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
Dr Mohammed Alfa, Director of Food and Drugs Board (FDB)
said consumers were increasingly concerned about food
quality and safely issues and international markets were
demanding that all links in the food supply chain understood
consumer preferences and the supplier achieved tighter food
safety standards and ensure consistent quality.
He observed that the introduction of HACCP system and its
adoption in the supply chain would assist in the elimination
of biological, chemical and physical hazards.
Dr Alfa later presented a certificate of conformity to the
GOPDC, HACCP team leader, Mr L.S.K. Atsrim as approval of
FDB to the company’s high standards and quality palm oil and
its derivatives.
GNA
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