AWDA And FDA Engage Artisanal Salt Producers On Salt Fortification

The Ada West District Assembly (AWDA) in collaboration with Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) on Thursday, 8th October 2026 had a stakeholder engagement with artisanal salt producers on the essence of salt iodization or salt fortification within the jurisdiction of the Ada West and in compliance with the relevant laws.

This engagement came on the back of an earlier engagement in the form of workshop held on 31st March and 1st April 2026 to empower the executives of the various groups into the production of salt in the area so they could in turn train their members in the production and enhancement of quality and safety edible salts delivered by artisanal operators in the area with the right level of iodine.

However, due to the difficulty of individual salt producers to procure the needed iodine to ensure the right level of salt fortification, a company by name, Jenefal Farms and Industries LTD came onboard to assist producers in the fortification of salt but the pricing of the iodization charged by the company had become an issue as some salt producers were raising concerns; one about the cost and why the producers could not be allowed to do the iodization themselves and hence the purpose for the stakeholder engagement.

The FDA team led by Mrs. Maureen Lartey (Director, Food Safety and consumer Education), made the point that the producers were not compelled to allow a third party (Jenefal Farms and Industries LTD) or any other company to iodize their salts. However, the producers ought to know that per the law (the Public Health Act, 2012 Act 851), it was the responsibility of the producer (and not the aggregators or buyers) to ensure the fortification of salts produced with the right level of iodine and that any vehicle found transporting salt without the right level of iodine fortification, the producer would be held liable and urged the various groups of salt producers within the Ada enclave to iron out any concerns they may have with the company currently licensed to do the salt fortification so that they are not found on the wrong side of the law. Mrs. Lartey underscored the importance of salt fortification as public health concern as it helps in human development and intelligent quotient (IQ) growth in children and urged producers not to compromise the process because the law would not be kind to them, if found culpable and added, that the pecuniary sanction in that respect is Twenty Five Thousand Cedis (Ghc25,000.00) at the moment.

The District Chief Executive (DCE), Hon. Modjifa Tanihu J.J Mills-Nkrumah in his remarks also indicated the health implication of non-iodized salts as well as the implication for exportation of salts found at its final destination (outside Ghana) which failed the test of iodization and stressed, that if this comes to the attention of the World Health Organization (WHO), it can have serious repercussion for the country and it would be sad to hear such story to be traced to the Ada enclave noted for rich salt production. He therefore urged salt producers to comply with the relevant laws so that the salt can be a blessing to the people of the area.

At the end of the engagement, the various groups of producers agreed, that they should be given one week to engage the company (Jenefal Farms and Industries LTD) currently licensed for the iodization of salts produced in the Ada enclave to ensure compliance with relevant laws and to guarantee the right level of iodine in salt produced in the area.

Other officers of the FDA present at the stakeholder engagement were Mrs. Jane Amissa-Tetteh (Head, Foo safety coordination and consumer education), Ms. Nana Akua Yeboah (Head, food safety, monitoring and biosafety Unit) and Ms. Bella Nkansah (food safety and monitoring and biosafety Unit).

Three groups of salt producers were represented namely; Ada Songor Lagoon Association (ASLA), Dangme East Salt Producers Association and Ada Songor Salt Marketing Association (ASSMA).

Also present at the engagement were the Presiding Member of the Ada West District Assembly, Hon. Lawrence Katey Ngunekpeku, District Finance Officer, Precious K. Kuagbedzie, the District Police Commander, Chief/Supt. Daniel Danladi Yaro and some technocrats of the Ada West District Assembly.