The Food and Drugs Authority has organised this year’s edition of operation One-Consumer, One Officer (1C1O) reloaded programme at Goaso, capital of the Ahafo region.
Operation One-Consumer, One-Officer reloaded is a major awareness creation tool by the FDA through which personnel of the institution are deployed usually at market centres to educate traders and the general public on food safety, and also distribute educational materials to them.
It empowers consumers to know what to look out for when buying food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, household and other regulated products.
As Christmas approaches, this year’s 1C1O programme, which took place at the Goaso main market afforded FDA staff the opportunity to interact with market women and the public at large and instantly address their concerns regarding the safety of consumable products on the market.
Collective responsibility
Madam Akua Amponsaa Owusu, the FDA boss responsible for Bono East, Bono and Ahafo regions noted that food safety was a collective responsibility of all, adding that “every individual has a definite role to ensure his or her safety beyond what the state and its institutions can provide.”
She cautioned the public to be extra vigilant as a lot of consumables are usually released unto the market during Christmas and New Year, saying, “some traders and importers take undue advantage of the increased demand for consumables to put out for sale products that are either unwholesome or non-conforming to known standards.”
Madam Amponsaa Owusu said even though her outfit was making strenuous efforts at pursuing those behind this unlawful act, it considered it expedient “to empower the consumer to partner the FDA to ensure that this battle is won.
“Ultimately, it is expected that both the public and the traders would be informed of the activities of the FDA; how to collaborate with the FDA to guarantee public health and safety; how to contact the FDA; and how to partner the FDA to ensure that our markets and shops are free from unwholesome and unregulated products”, she explained.
About The Author
