Accra, Ghana, July 17, 2020 – IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, together with Ghana’s Ministry of Health and Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD), today published a guidebook on good hygiene practices to help horticulture and food industries protect their workers and customers from the coronavirus.
The guidebook details how farmers and agribusiness companies can prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in their harvesting, packaging, processing, and logistics activities. The tool includes guidelines to ensure the health of employees and to maintain the sanitary quality of food.
The virtual soft launch of the book on June 25, 2020 convened industry representatives, including mango, vegetable, and pineapple producers.
Dr. Fecilia Ansah-Amprofi, Director of PPRSD, said, “At a time when fruits and vegetables are most needed, IFC’s support enables Ghana’s food producers to feed Ghanaians and earn foreign exchange without spreading the coronavirus. PPRSD will work to ensure that some of these practices stay after the pandemic.”
Ronke-Amoni Ogunsulire, IFC Country Manager for Ghana, said “We are delighted to have been involved in this guide, which supports Ghana’s horticulture industry to keep business going safely through COVID-19. IFC will continue to seek ways of helping to protect key value chains in Ghana and position them for economic recovery.”
Coronavirus has triggered serious concern in the fresh food industry in Ghana. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the transmission of the virus through food represent a very low risk, operators are experiencing a general decline in export and local market sales as well as rising transport costs.
A recent survey by the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) shows that Ghana’s agribusiness companies recorded a 61 percent reduction in average monthly income during the country’s three-week lockdown in April.
With correct implementation of these guidelines by actors along the horticulture and food value chains, consumers can be more confident in the safety of the end products and workers in the related industries. The guidebook is available free of charge at PPRSD’s office in Accra.
African Eye Report
