BAN USE OF ETHYLENE OXIDE


The Director-General of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) Prof. Edward Akaho has called on the government to ban the use ethylene oxide for medical sterilization as it predisposes man to cancer.

Prof. Edward Akaho said it has been long proven that exposure to ethylene oxide used in the sterilization of medical products predisposes man to cancer.

He urged the government to adopt the safer method which is radiation which is approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the Ghana Standards Board (GSB)

He made this call during the commissioning of the upgraded gamma irradiation facility of the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute in Accra.

Prof. Akaho said GAEC is in consultation with the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) to implement a program which shall see the establishment of a Food Safety Laboratory in the commission.

He explained that the laboratory shall monitor the nation’s food control systems by analyzing chemical and microbial hazards in order to verify food safety and quality.

The gamma irradiation facility provides post harvest management of agricultural products and improvement in hygienic quality of medical products.
He said upgrade of the facility cost GH ¢800 000 with funding coming from Export Development Investment Fund (EDIF) in a GH 400 000 grant and another GH 400 000 loan.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Sherry Aryittey said the government is willing to support all scientific innovations brought forth by the commission.

She said when the facility is fully utilized, it will bring in more revenue for exports in Ghana.

The minister advised GAEC to publicise their activities so that majority of Ghanaians will see the benefit of their research work.

Mr. Abraham Adu-Gyamfi, manager of the Radiation Technology Centre explained that the irradiation facility was acquired in 1994 from Hungary under an international atomic energy agency technical assistance project.

He said the over the past 15 years the center has processed various products like Infusion sets, Surgical gauze, Yams, Spices among others.

Mr. Adu-Gyamfi said as result of the activities the Cobalt-60 which was installed initially with the facility has decayed and the operation has become inefficient “that is why it has become necessary to upgrade it”.

The manager explained that the upgraded facility will enhance efficiency of operations and assist the country in improving the hygienic quality and phytosanitary status of agricultural exports to meet quarantine requirements of the international market.

The Director of Export Development Investment Fund (EDIF) Mr Agyabeng Antwi-Agyei challenged GAEC to engage in full scale commercial processing of agricultural produce to reduce post-harvest loses.

He said the revenue generated from this activity should be channeled into other research activities.

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