The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson has asked residents of Osu who consumed some of the fish that were washed ashore to avail themselves for monitoring.
Addressing the media during an engagement with the fishermen of the area on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, the Minister urged such persons to own up for medical checks.
“I want to use this opportunity to plead with the community – if anyone has taken or consumed the fish please own up, so we can address any problems that may arise out of the consumption.”
“Please cooperate with us and own up, so we can monitor you to know your health situation. If there are some in the market, please let us withdraw them. We are doing our best to know what caused that situation,” said the Minister.
Meanwhile, the CEO of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Delese Mimi Darko says the Authority will facilitate the immediate completion of investigations into the situation.
“We have sent samples to the laboratory. This is not a normal occurrence and until we can find out what has happened, we need to take measures to ensure no one is harmed and that is why FDA is here. We will hurry up and make sure the laboratory tests will come out as quickly as possible.”
The fish were found along the shores of the Osu Castle beach last Friday.
Similarly, over 80 mammals believed to be melon-headed whales were washed ashore at the Axim-Bewire beach in the Nzema East Municipality on Sunday.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development is coordinating an inter-agency investigation into the reported incidents.
The FDA has also dispatched an inspection team to markets in parts of the capital, Accra following the incident.
