Multiple corn mills at the Agbogbloshie Market have been shut down by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) after authorities uncovered what they describe as dangerous and unhygienic operating conditions.

The action follows disturbing findings by the Joy Clean Ghana Campaign, a sanitation initiative by JoyNews, which revealed that mills grinding corn and cassava dough, daily staples in many Ghanaian homes, are operating in environments that could expose consumers to harmful pathogens and diseases in the long run.

This means the corn dough many residents purchase from the market may have passed through facilities that fall far below basic sanitation standards.

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s Public Health Taskforce says the closures form part of renewed enforcement efforts within Accra’s Central Business District to clamp down on insanitary practices that threaten public health.

District Environmental Health Officer for the Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metro, George Lawson, explained that inspections uncovered serious sanitation breaches that posed potential health risks to consumers.

Warning that operators who fail to meet required hygiene standards will face further sanctions, including prosecution.

Corn and cassava dough are widely consumed across Ghana, forming the base for popular meals such as banku and kenkey. Public health experts caution that contamination at the milling stage can introduce bacteria and other disease-causing organisms into food before it even reaches the cooking pot.

The AMA says the ongoing exercise is not meant to cripple livelihoods but to ensure food safety and protect consumers. The Joy Clean Ghana Campaign continues to spotlight sanitation lapses across markets and communities, urging both authorities and citizens to take collective responsibility for maintaining hygienic environments.