The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the National Codex Committee (NCC), on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, held an Inception and Validation Workshop on Aflatoxin Data Generation at Standards Heights at Ridge in Accra.
The workshop, held under the theme: “Promoting National Aflatoxin Surveillance and Standards for Enhanced Food Security in Ghana”, gathered key stakeholders from government institutions, academia, research organizations, industry, and development partners, to discuss strategies for strengthening food safety systems in the country.
The purpose of this project is to establish a coordinated national aflatoxin surveillance system by generating credible and comparable occurrence data for selected commodities using internationally recognized sampling, laboratory testing, and reporting protocols.
In his welcome address, the Deputy Director-General in charge of Operations (DDG-OPS), Dr. Mohammed Awal, highlighted the growing concern posed by aflatoxins to food safety and public health. He noted that aflatoxins remain one of the most significant food safety threats affecting staple commodities, stressing that standards are only effective when they are science-based, practical, and developed through broad stakeholder engagement.
Dr. Awal underscored the critical role of the technical committee in reviewing available evidence, sharing expertise, and developing standards that align with international best practices while addressing Ghana’s unique food safety challenges.
He commended the continued collaboration among stakeholders and development partners in advancing national food safety objectives.
“The continuous support of FAO, the NCC, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), research institutions, universities, industry players, and development partners is invaluable. Together, we are building a stronger national food control system,” he stated.
He further encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions and contribute constructively towards developing practical recommendations that will protect consumers, support farmers and processors, and facilitate fair trade.
The workshop featured presentations from Madam Doreen Gyau Koranteng, Codex Contact Manager at GSA; Dr. Paul Osei Ofosu, Director of the Physical Science Directorate, as well as representatives from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research–Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (CSIR-STEPRI).
The event ended with an interactive session that provided participants the opportunity to seek clarifications, share insights, and contribute to discussions aimed at strengthening Ghana’s national aflatoxin surveillance framework and food safety standards.