SENSITIZATION MEETING ON AFLATOXINS AND NIXTAMALIZATION HELD AT THE GREAT HALL, UNIVERSITY OF GHAN
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1mpE06MpXIBomWGW4U42bR7bB8QghAATL (Click to access program line up)
The Centre for Latin American Studies (CLAS) collaborated with the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) and the Embassy of Mexico in Ghana, to hold a sensitization workshop under the theme
Aflatoxin Sensitization: Standards, Public Health and Nixtamilization. As part of the objectives of the National Aflatoxin Sensitization and Management (NASAM) Project, the meeting provided a
platform for informing, discussing and creating awareness on aflatoxins, their causes and effects and the various solutions available to curb its menace.
The event took place on May 27, 2019 at the Great Hall, University of Ghana and was attended by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, the Ambassador and officials of the Embassy of
Mexico in Ghana, and the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry. It also saw the participation of representatives from diverse institutions and professions such as the academia, the Ghana
Standards Authority (GSA), Nestlé, IITA, NAFCO, AGRA, AGRI-WEB, FDA, CSIR-STEPRI, GTCA. Media Houses present included, Joy News, Peace FM, Metro TV and GTV.
Giving the opening address, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, expounded on the University’s commitment to support sustainable economic goals
which has led it to be identified by the International Association of Universities as a leading institution in this area. He affirmed that:
"The University of Ghana supports the Mexican Embassy in this project of Nixtamilization which appears to be a traditional process in Mexico and Central America capable of removing 97% to 100% of aflatoxins from mycotoxins in contaminated corn."
Professor Oduro Owusu concluded that in as much as the project will promote agricultural growth, it will also strengthen bilateral relations and promote collaboration between Ghana and
Mexico.
(From the left: Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana and The Ambassador of the Embassy of Mexico to Ghana)
In his address the Deputy Director General of CAS- GSA, Mr. Charles Amoako identified key target groups, such as processors, farmers and academia, in the sensitization on aflatoxins. He
underscored the immense support the project has received from the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) which seeks to increase food safety in Africa as a whole. He further touched on
the effects aflatoxins have on economic growth and encouraged the various target groups to work hand in hand by sharing ideas in order to fight against the situation.
The Acting Country Manager of AGRA, Mr. Bashiru Musah touched on AGRA’s aim and objectives such as working with the Ghanaian Government and other African countries in identifying
opportunities, challenges and articulating positive gaps, promoting conducive environments for public and private sector investments. He outlined the Alliance’s vision to catalyse a sustainable
agricultural transformation in Africa by increasing income and improving food security for farmers by 2021. He reiterated AGRA’s support for countries on the pathway to attain and sustain
agricultural transformation, thereby fulfilling a common goal which is to see an Africa that is independent and industrialized. Hence, AGRA collaborating with GSA and IITA will implement NASAM
with the intention of informing, educating and engaging the public and private sectors on health and economic risks posed by aflatoxin contamination. He concluded by stating that the project
offers the opportunity to seek more appropriate measures of tackling aflatoxins and improving food security and security on the whole.
H.E Maria de los Angeles Arriola, Ambassador to the Embassy of Mexico in Ghana expounded on the Nixtamilization process as a means of curbing the risks posed by aflatoxins. She explained
that it is a process of washing maize with an alkaline solution made of limestone that reduces aflatoxins and mycotoxins contaminating corn. Depending on the method used, up to a 100%
aflatoxin-free corn can be obtained. Closing her address, she relayed that the process has been in existence in Mexico for centuries and has been of great help, hence it is a reliable method
Ghana can adopt to help in the fight against aflatoxins.
Hon. Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry of Ghana, gave the final address and indicated that mycology and post-harvest losses are of great interest to him. He
spoke about the economic burden that mycotoxins and aflatoxins place on the Ghanaian economy as well as its health implications. In view of this, Nixtamilization holds great promise in terms
of food safety and security as well as exportation because of the ban on aflatoxin-contaminated foods. He noted that the project is a timely intervention to the Government’s planting for food
and jobs initiative.
A group of experts educated participants on different aspects of the theme: Messrs. Derry Dontoh and Nathaniel Brakoh of GSA - Aflatoxin basics and standards, Ms. Faustina Atupra of FDA -
FDA’s role in the fight against aflatoxins in Ghana; Mr. Fatih Ermis of Nestle - Success Story; Mr. Aldo Rosales of International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) – Nixtamilization;
and Aflatoxin as a Human Health Concern by Mr. Justice Kumi of Noguchi Memorial Institute gave these presentations respectively.
The event was brought to a successful end after a question and answer session which was then followed by closing remarks from representatives of the National Steering Committee and IITA.
They both emphasized that the fight to curb aflatoxin-contaminated foods was not only a concern for Government and institutions involved in the NASAM project but for all and sundry. They
stressed the need to put measures in place to improve food safety and security and thus improve economic growth for the wellbeing of all.