Government is planning to restrict the importation of some essential goods including offal, locally referred to as ‘Yemuadeɛ’ or intestine.
The import bill for this delicacy of some Ghanaians is said to put financial burden on the country.
Ghana spends $164 million dollars just to import animal ruminants annually, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
“We are taking steps to ensure that we are able to go back to Acheampong’s ‘Operation Feed Yourself’ to foster domestic production”, K.T. Hammond, the sector Minister pointed out during a media encounter.
But how are consumers and chop bar operators in Kumasi reacting to the move to restrict importation of the organ meat?
Nana Yaw’s love for offal is deep.
The social media manager says he cannot go a day without consuming animal intestine.
“As for this, I support the move to implement even a total importation ban, because I am even shocked we import offal in this country. Though it is my favourite, I will not consume the imported ones”, Nana Yaw said.
Oscar Antwi Boasiako is also a consumer.
“I got to know we import offal during a family funeral, recently. It is good government is taking steps to ban its importation because health-wise, it is problematic”, he noted.
At chop bars and local dish eateries in Kumasi, it is common to see offals in soups.
The imported ones are bought to supplement local ones due to high demand.
A chop bar operator at Santasi, who wants to remain anonymous, confirmed she mix the imported offals with the local ones since her local supplier is unable to meet her demands.
“The imported ones are cheaper and easily accessible in large quantities so we buy and merge with local ones”.
But Hannah, another chop bar operator at Asokwa is keeping to her customers demand of getting them only the local tripe.
“For me, I stick to only the local ones because it tastes better than the imported ones,” Hannah said.
Well, the Ministry of Trade and Industry is said the have presented a Constitutional Instrument (C.I) to Parliament to seek approval to restrict the importation of animal organs on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.