Four Sogakope sachet water production plants have had their operations terminated by the South Tongu District Emergency Response Team after it was discovered that their goods were tainted.
The four, whose identities are being kept secret, have also been given the responsibility of pulling the items off the market right away.
Four of the 14 sachet water production plants that the team in charge of food and food safety examined had microbiological bacterial development.
Members of the Ghana Health Service, Environmental Health Service, and Food and Drugs Authority comprise the team.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency after collecting water samples from the Sogakope enclave, Mr. Gorden Akurugu, Volta Regional Head of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), stated that the Authority’s examination of the samples revealed that four of the 14 production units were contaminated.
According to him, there was a lot of mold, yeast, bacteria, and E. Coli in the water.
According to him, the outlets that extract water straight from the river or treat it have contaminated both the raw or untreated water and the final product with microbiological bacteria that is harmful to ingestion by humans.
The Volta Regional Head of FDA said the suspended production outlets have already been registered by the FDA but will have to fix their systems to correct the anomaly under strict supervision.
He said it would be criminal for any company to exploit the flooding situation to its advantage, warning that the FDA would mete out more punitive punishment, including closing down such recalcitrant businesses.
Mr. Akurugu said the FDA and the Team would continue to monitor the production of sachet water in all affected areas going forward to avoid an outbreak of food-borne diseases.
Mr. Hope Smith Lomotey, Volta Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), said the Authority would continue to undertake an impact assessment of the flood environment, taking cognisance of the ecology, ecosystem, flora, and fauna.
He warned that those evacuated must stay at the safe havens until sanity was restored for their return. He said the environment, including the floodwaters, was heavily polluted with metals and other agents from chemicals from fitting shops, hospitals, clinics, mortuaries, public toilets, and septic tanks, all having been buried underwater.
Mr. Lomotey said lives must be saved first before talking about restoration, which he added could not be ascertained now.
