The FDA after several laboratory tests has found the presence of chlorpyrifos, a toxic substance commonly used in pesticides in the samples of the banku victims at Akakpokope in the Volta region consumed which saw six people losing their lives.
The FDA after the demise of the six indigenes, took samples of the banku to the FDA Quality Control Laboratory and Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) on March 5, 2018, for analysis.
In a statement signed by the Acting CEO of FDA, Delese A.A Darko the authority said “laboratory results from the GSA on the 13th of March, 2018 indicated the presence of Chlorpyrifos†which confirms earlier analysis by the FDA.
FDA said they are forwarding the findings to the Public Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service for further action.
Â
Meanwhile, the FDA in the statement said the authority is not responsible to determine the cause of death until an investigation is conducted.
“the FDA is not mandated to determine the cause of death. This can only be established after a pathological investigationâ€.
Background
Residents in Akakpokope, a village in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region were thrown into a state of mourning after six individuals died hours after consuming a local delicacy on Sunday, March 4 2018.
The deceased, who were between the ages of 10 and 40, were said to belong to two separate families and coincidentally seemed to have eaten the same meal.