<<Print>>

Research conducted by The Clock newspaper has revealed that cabbage and other vegetables are a leading cause of cholera outbreak in the capital city, Accra. This is because a number of water sources used in nursing these vegetables are contaminated with waste from human bowels. This came to light when the editorial team of The Clock Newspaper sampled seven different pieces of cabbage and lettuce from four markets centres, namely; Agbogbloshi, Kaneshie, Osu and Maamobi markets, all in the capital city, Accra for testing. The testing was mainly conducted to ascertain the presence of feacal matter in some vegetables being sold on the market. It was revealed that most of the vegetables contain micro bacterial which inhabits feaces. Further investigations revealed that the vegetables attracted the feacal matter as a result of the source of water which is used in nursing the vegetables. A microbiologist, Mr. Eugene Asampong-Oduro told The Clock Newspaper after confirming a substantial amount of feaces in all the seven sample cabbages that the vegetable is the most carriers of feacal matter and other micro-bacterial because of the several layers of the vegetable. He said during the watering process, some of the debris from the unhygienic water get stuck in the layers of the cabbage and begin to produce a microorganism that develops into strong bacterial called Vibrio cholera. Consumers of such affected vegetables are infected by the bacterial that causes cholera, when eaten uncooked. The cabbage leaves, which forms part of major cereal meals such as cooked rice, waakye and Jollof rice are mostly eaten in the raw state mixed with other vegetables like lettuce, salad leaves, carrots and many more. Speaking to some vegetable sellers in the market, The Clock Newspaper gathered that most of the vegetables which have harmful bacterial and unhygienic components in them were harvested in some areas of the city, namely, La, 37 area, Kawukudi Junction, Teshie, Spintex Road, Lashibi and Ashaiman among others. However, some of them said their vegetables were from the hither lands and not from Accra. Enquiries a the Water Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research revealed that sample tests of most the water sources used in watering these vegetables in the city is contaminated and have lot of feacal matter. A source at the Institute who spoke on condition of anonymity said they have commenced research into the issue and are yet to come out with a statement. According to the source, most of the waters used by farmers within the metropolis are collected from gutters and septic tanks, which are normally highly unhygienic, especially for watering vegetables. The source noted that as part of their research finding, the market women told them the vegetables were from eastern region, and other parts of the country, but the truth is that, most of these vegetables are from Accra and its environs�, adding that the water sources in most areas of Accra are terribly bad. The source further stated that apart from the feacal matter found in the vegetables, the market women do not wash the products because according to them, the vegetable will rot when the they wash them. �Because when they wash it, the pesticides used in spraying the vegetables will be washed away and will cause them to lose their freshness and begin to rot�, the source submitted. The source at the water Research Institute disclosed that the institute�s research is aimed at collecting data on the amount of feacal matter on fresh vegetables, the quantity of pesticides found on such vegetables during washing, after washing and after cooking. The research will also determine how much of pesticides and feacal matter is deposited in the consumer after consumption of such products.