The move is line with Sections 106 and 115 of the Public Health Act 2012, (Act 851).

Section 106 of Act 851 states: "A person shall not manufacture food for sale unless the food is manufactured under the supervision of a person with appropriate knowledge and qualification who can ensure the purity, quality and wholesomeness of the food".

Additionally, Section 115 (1)(a) of Act 851 states: "A person shall not manufacture a drug, herbal medicinal product, cosmetic, medical device or household chemical substance for sale unless the manufacturing operation is carried on, or is supervised by a pharmacist or a qualified person approved by the Authority as having specialist knowledge in the article to be manufactured."

The stakeholder consultation meeting was, therefore, to share with them Authority’s plans to help build the capacity of persons who would serve as supervisors within their various manufacturing set ups towards meeting the requirement of the Public Health Act.

Representatives from the National Association of Sachet Water Producers, Association of Ghana Industries, Association of Small-scale Industries, and Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations were among the participants.

Others were Purim Ghana Limited, which enhances the capacity of Kayaye in Cosmetics and Household Manufacturing, and AWEP, made up of Women Entrepreneurs in manufacturing.

Mr Kwame Dei Asamoah Okyere, the Principal Regulatory Officer, Monitoring and Evaluation Division at the FDA, said the meeting was geared towards informing industry on the benefits and opportunities of the project.

He said the FDA would in furtherance to the meeting, partner with industry, academia and consultancies to develop curricula to train the supervisors all over the country to ensure easy accessibility.

Mr Ebenezer Kofi Essel, the Head of Food and Industrial Services Department at the FDA, said knowledge sharing with industry and training was significant for ensuring compliance and enforcement.

Mr Emmanuel Nkrumah, the Head of Narcotics and Household Chemicals Department at the FDA, said for the country to derive substantial benefits from cottage, small and medium scale industries required compliance with law and international best practices.