By Sally Fatty
The Brikama fish marketʼs unhygienic conditions have raised concerns among vendors and customers, prompting calls for the Ministry of Fisheries to hand over the market management to the Brikama Area Council.
This reporter went out and about to unpack the sanitary and unhygienic conditions of the Brikama fish market.
In June 2022, the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) ordered for the temporal closure of the fish market, citing gross violations of food safety standards
The Brikama Area Council and the Brikama Fish Market Committee called on the Ministry of Fisheries to hand over the management of the fish market to the area council. This they say would allow them to take full responsibility for cleaning and maintaining the area.
The Chairman of the Fish Market Committee, Foday Majang, echoed these sentiments, stating that the Ministry of Fisheries has not been responsive to their concerns.
The market’s unhygienic conditions pose a high risk of food contamination to products, handlers, and consumers.
The water from the fish market plant is believed to be the cause of stagnant water in the market, creating an unhygienic environment.
The Public Relations Officer for Brikama Area Council, Lamin Singhateh, said the council has been working with the Ministry of Fisheries to take over the fish market. He added that the council has been providing support to curb the unhygienic conditions and flooding in the market.
“Despite this, the council is providing support by supplying septic tanks to drain dirty water and reduce flooding.”.
