The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is set to conduct inspections of school canteens across public and private basic and secondary schools. This according to the Authority is to ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
The exercise aims to identify and address risks related to unsafe food handling, preparation, and storage.
As part of the initiative, all school canteens and kitchens are required to obtain a Food Hygiene Permit and a health certificate.
Officers of the Food and Drugs Authority will visit schools nationwide to undertake the exercise.
Regional Directors of Education have been asked to inform district offices to support the exercise and ensure its smooth implementation.
This directive was contained in a letter dated January 22, 2025, and signed by Prince Agyemang-Duah, Director for Schools and Instructions at the Ghana Education Service (GES) National Headquarters, on behalf of the Director-General. The letter, sighted on the GES official handle, emphasized the FDA’s regulatory role under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).
Judging from the legal and health importance of such national exercise, it is expected that all parties involved, especially, school Heads and cooks will cooperate to make it successful.
