A Ghanaian businessman based in the United Kingdom, Stephen Akuoko, has been sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of serious food safety violations, according to a report by DW Africa.
The 62-year-old, who operated a business known as Tribal Foods in Watford, has also been banned from running any food-related business for five years. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay $3,340 in costs within a three-year period.
At a hearing at St Albans Crown Court, it was revealed that Akuoko stored fish meant for human consumption in extremely unhygienic conditions inside his apartment. Investigators found food items kept in a bathtub and on the floor close to a toilet.
Despite these conditions, he reportedly supplied ready-to-eat meals to supermarkets and smaller retail outlets.
Prosecutors further disclosed that some of the food products had unusually long use-by dates and were not properly labelled with ingredients, raising serious health concerns.
The court also heard that Akuoko continued distributing the products even after being issued official orders to stop operations, an action described as a clear disregard for the law.
He pleaded guilty to two charges, including failing to comply with a remedial action notice.
