The long awaited salmonella infested gizzard which was impounded at the Port of Tema following a tip-off from the Brazilian embassy has finally been destroyed.
A joint team comprising the Customs division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Veterinary services, GPHA Intelligence, Ports Health Services, National Security, Bureau of National Investigations and other stakeholders in the import and export chain destroyed the salmonella infested gizzard at the Kpone Dumping Site on Wednesday 4th March 2020.
In addition to the destruction of the infested gizzard, four other containers of unwholesome animal products were also destroyed in the joint effort of the agencies.
Dr. Asiedu Baah, Director of Veterinary Services said although they are able to bury the unwholesome gizzard infested with salmonella, certain impediments hindered their ability to destroy the products which was scheduled to be destroyed on , February 17, 2020.
He praised the security agencies involved and their effort in ensuring that the impounded container was not tempered with at the time it was taken for the destruction.
Dr. Asiedu Baah also reiterated that the importers of the infested gizzard were able to clear the three containers ahead of the officials and succeeded in selling the products to the citizenry because of the late alert obtained by the agencies from the Brazilian authorities.
Dr. Stephen George Bonnah, head of Regulatory Unit, Veterinary Services Directorate, at the Port of Tema reiterated that going forward, there should be coordination among stakeholder agencies on the Joint Inspection Management Information System platform which gives approval for the clearance of goods at the port.
He said that the public should be reassured that the unwholesome animal products have been destroyed and going forward, veterinary and its allied services are going to effectively regulate all animal products that enter the country.
Source: EOP
