Palm oil sellers in Koforidua in the Eastern Region are calling on the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to extend its market surveillance to production centres following the arrest of seven women suspected of selling adulterated palm oil.
The operation follows laboratory confirmation that samples of palm oil confiscated by the FDA during routine market surveillance in the Koforidua market late last year contained Sudan IV dye.
According to the FDA, five suspects were initially arrested but denied knowledge of the adulteration, insisting they were only retailers who sourced their products from suppliers, particularly from Akyem Maase. This prompted an intelligence-led operation to trace the supply chain, leading to the arrest of seven additional suspects.
The Eastern Regional Correspondent, Kojo Ansah, reports that the palm oil sellers maintain they are only retailers who purchase products from producers across parts of the region and lack the technical capacity to detect contamination.
Their call follows a joint operation by the Ghana Police Service and the FDA, which led to the arrest of seven women believed to be part of a network distributing adulterated palm oil in the Koforidua market.
The operation was triggered by laboratory findings that samples of palm oil previously confiscated during routine surveillance contained Sudan IV dye, a toxic industrial chemical not approved for use in food.
The FDA explained that the initial five suspects denied any involvement in adulteration, stating that they sourced their stock from suppliers, particularly from Akyem Maase. This led to further investigations and arrests linked to the supply chain.
The latest suspects were arrested upon arrival in Koforidua while allegedly attempting to supply suspected adulterated palm oil to the market.
Meanwhile, some traders, including Queenmother Martha, say the development is negatively affecting their businesses and reputation despite their claims of innocence. They are therefore urging authorities to focus on producers and manufacturers responsible for the adulteration.
