A Food Safety and Certification Taskforce to ensure food security in Ghana has been inaugurated in Accra.

The initiative under the auspices of HortiFresh, a programme supported by the Netherlands Embassy is aimed at developing strategies and activities to address current and emerging food safety and certification challenges in the horticulture sector.

The Taskforce is made up of various stakeholders from academia, exporters association, processors and retailers of fruit and vegetables, regulatory authorities and agencies, development partners and agro-input dealers.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Policy Officer in charge of Agribusiness at the Netherlands Embassy, Abdulai Abdul Rahaman underscored the importance of enhancing institutional efforts to improve the food safety situation of fruits and vegetables in Ghana.

According to him, the task force will push the agenda for food safety and improve consumer confidence.

He expressed appreciation for the initiative to all stakeholders and challenged them to make the horticulture sector more attractive to the youth.

Also, Programme Manager of HortiFresh, Sheila Assibey-Yeboah said the work of the Taskforce will be focused more on the fruit and vegetable sectors.

“The Taskforce will be reviewing the food safety situation in the country and promote both international and domestic standards of the fruit and vegetable” she stated.

She indicated that the Taskforce will coordinate campaigns and consumer education on food safety and also support the enforcement of food safety standards in Ghana.

On the role of HortiFresh, Mrs Assibey-Yeboah said they will be facilitators to support the activities of the Taskforce.

Representatives of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) commended HortiFresh and the Netherlands Embassy for their continuous support to Ghana’s agric sector.

A representative of the Taskforce assured they will discharge their duty diligently to protect consumers from unwholesome foods.