The Kpando Municipal Assembly in the Volta region has placed an immediate ban on the sale of ‘poisonous’ puffer fish in the area.
The temporary ban follows the death of five persons in the municipality as a result of the consumption of the rare fish specie, known as ‘Gede or Agede’ in the Ewe language.
At least 10 persons from Gbefi, Alavanyo and Sovie communities who suffered various health complications after eating the pufferfish are responding to treatment at the Margaret Marquart Catholic Hospital at Kpando.
A fisheries Expert, Mrs. Jemima Kassah told Starr News, the pufferfish is a dangerous specie which has poisonous glands and if not properly prepared for consumption, can caused severe health complications, resulting in death in a matter of minutes.
In a move therefore to curtail further deaths, the Kpando Municipal Public Health Emergency Committee, at the end of a stakeholders meeting on Friday, resolved to ‘temporary ban the sale of pufferfish in any form, either fresh, smoked or salted until further notice.’
A statement issued by the assembly, also tasked the police to deal accordingly with ‘anybody caught selling the fish the fish to the public.’
Meanwhile, a taskforce comprising officials of the assembly, fisheries department, NADMO, Food and Drugs Authority, Police and health services have also been set up to enforce the ban and also keep surveillance on the activities of fisherfolks and mongers at various landing sites along the Volta lake to forestall the influx of the poisonous fish into the markets.