Traders in the markets of Nsawam, are fiercely pushing back against the government’s long-standing prohibition of turkey tail, popularly known as “Chofi.”
For these sellers, the popular delicacy is not a health hazard, but the single lifeline keeping their families afloat.
They argue that the Food and Drugs Authority’s reasons for the ban are completely unfounded, pointing out that they have sold the meat for years without a single customer complaining of falling ill.
Viewing the restriction as a direct, deliberate attempt to destroy their livelihoods, the traders question why turkey tail is being singled out.
Speaking to Rainbow Radio’s Prince Bening, they argued that if the authority claims turkey tail is unsafe, they might as well ban goat, cow, chicken, pork, and all other meats.
Instead of enforcing an outright ban, the traders are calling on officials to reconsider the directive and engage them on safer handling practices.
Yet, despite this defiance from local vendors, the Food and Drugs Authority maintains that the product poses a severe threat to public health.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer Frederick Kwabena Daddey-Adjei recently revealed that turkey tail continues to flood local markets despite a 20-year nationwide ban.
The product was officially banned in 1999 due to its exceptionally high fat content, which health officials continuously warn can lead to obesity, hypertension, heart disease, and other serious non-communicable diseases.
Acknowledging that the product consistently resurfaces in cold stores across the country, Daddey-Adjei compared the persistent illegal trade to other illicit activities like prostitution and armed robbery, stating that the importation is being orchestrated by a syndicate of criminally minded individuals.
To bypass authority checkpoints, these smuggling syndicates rely heavily on unapproved routes.
He explained that some smugglers even manage to use the main ports by deliberately concealing the turkey tail or mixing it up with other legal products.
While the regulatory body has assured the public that it will do everything within its power to halt this illegal influx, officials emphasize that public cooperation is ultimately vital.
The authority is urging Ghanaian consumers to stop patronizing the vendors entirely, noting that cutting off demand is the single most effective way to naturally destroy the illegal market.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
