Olam Agri’s Grains business has successfully completed the first two phases of its nationwide health screening programme for bakers under the organisation’s “My Healthy Baker” initiative in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions, respectively.
Over 3,800 bakers from across the two regions participated in the extensive screening and training exercise, which Olam Agri Ghana says is aimed at enhancing health and hygiene standards within the country’s fast-growing bakery sector.
‘My Healthy Baker’ initiative focuses on promoting the well-being of bakers while fostering a healthier environment. In 2024, Olam Agri has extended the scope of the programme to cover major regions in Ghana and has ensured that targeted bakeries have access to either stationary or mobile screening centres to ensure widespread coverage and increased impact.
Municipalities covered in the two phases executed include Tema, Ashaiman, Teshie, Asokore, Mampong, Suame, Kwabre East, Bosomtwe, Asokwa, Atwima Kwanwoma, Old Tafo, KMA, Kwadaso, Oforikrom, Afiagya Kwabre, and Ejisu.
Launched in 2022, “My Healthy Baker” is championed by Olam Agri’s Grains Business, producers of top-grade flour brands like First Choice, Royal Gold, and Vital, and involves close collaboration with teams of medical professionals, including Doctors, Nurses and Laboratory Technicians.
Along with the health screening, participants are taken through elaborate education in good hygiene practices to ensure that optimal food safety standards are maintained at their respective bakeries and bakers who successfully pass the health screening checks are issued with food handling certificates by local authorities certifying their suitability to handle food for public consumption.
Mr. Soumya Saxena, the Business Head for Olam Agri’s Grains Business, emphasised the substantial impact the initiative is making in the bakery sector when he spoke to reporters:
“The ‘Healthy Baker’ project has been met with great enthusiasm and appreciation in every community we visit. This project aligns with our effort to enhance food hygiene and promote food safety. The project continues to achieve its aim of highlighting the importance of health and hygiene education in the daily operations of bakers. We are extremely happy with the response from the communities we have visited so far.”
Participating bakers expressed their gratitude to Olam Agri and its health team for the initiative and many participants shared how the programme is positively influencing their practices, enabling them to adopt better hygiene protocols and maintain a healthier work environment.
“This health screening initiative has significantly enhanced my baking skills. The training provided has taught me essential techniques and the importance of maintaining hygiene in my environment when baking.” Said Dawuda Habibu, Baker at Maa Regi Bakery at La.
Next year, the “My Healthy Baker” initiative aims to expand to over 5,000 bakers across the country.
The program also aims to address the legal requirement for food vendors to provide annual medical health certificates by providing free comprehensive screening for bakers. Additionally, the program aims to provide hygiene training to bakers as part of strategies aimed at promoting food safety in our communities.
The next phase of the project will take place in Cape Coast, Takoradi, Agona Swedru, and Winneba.
