Francis Doku, a resident of Nkurakan in the Yilo Krobo municipality of the Eastern region, has been convicted by the Somanya Magistrate Court for selling expired food items. Presided over by Derek Ocloo, the court handed Doku a fine of 60 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢720.00.
Doku pleaded guilty to the charges of selling expired food products, a violation of Section 19 of the Yilo Krobo Assembly general sanitation bye-law, 2022.
According to Martin Abotsi, the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly Environmental Health officer, the incident occurred on November 14, 2023, when environmental health officers conducted an inspection of expired products at Nkurakan.
During the inspection of Doku’s shop, it was discovered that he had displayed expired canned drinks for sale to the public. Subsequently, the items were confiscated, and Doku was given an opportunity to explain the presence of expired products. However, he failed to respond to the invitation.
Due to Doku’s lack of cooperation, he was summoned to appear in court, where he was ultimately convicted.
Abotsi emphasized the serious implications of selling expired products to the public, highlighting the potential threat to public health and the risk of food poisoning. The conviction serves as a deterrent against such practices and underscores the importance of adhering to food safety regulations to protect consumers.
