AMA begins crackdown on unhygienic food joints to curb cholera outbreak

The AMA has begun a crackdown on chop bar and restaurant operators whose activities pose health risk to consumers.

These are part of measures to curb the cholera outbreak in the Accra Metropolis.

The move is part of a crackdown on unhygienic restaurants, eateries and chop bars in the capital in the wake of a cholera epidemic that has left more than 130 people dead. 

A team from the Public Health Directorate of the AMA led by its Director, Dr Sampson Anim Boateng, decided to close down the restaurant because it had an unhygienic kitchen, algae-infested surroundings close to the kitchen and grease and soot had accumulated on the heat extractors in the kitchen.

A defective gas cylinder in the kitchen had a stone on top of the regulator, probably to prevent a leakage of the gas.

Apart from Dynasty, two restaurants in the area—Noble House Chinese Restaurant and Frankies Hotel and Restaurant received cautions to rectify some anomalies in their operations or risk closure.

At Frankies, the team expressed concern about ongoing renovation works at the ground floor of the building, while some kitchen staff peeled onions nearby. There were also gas cylinders in the renovation area where electrical wires were dangling. 
The restaurant, the AMA officials insisted, was operating without a Health Suitability Report; a permit that indicates that  the health check list of the AMA had been adhered to. 
 
In the kitchen, most of the staff worked in inappropriate garbs and cobwebs were everywhere. 

At Noble House, the management of the company was asked to remove the cobwebs, clean the heat extractor fans that had accumulated grease and ensure that the kitchen staffs were appropriately dressed.

Management of the restaurant agreed to carry out the directives. 
Interestingly, in all of these restaurants, the dining areas were clean and well decorated. 



GBC