Ghanaian Entrepreneur Faces Consequences for Food Storage Facility
A Ghanaian chef, Stephen Akuoko, 62, has been handed a two-year suspended prison sentence and a five-year ban from operating any food business after being found guilty of storing fish in a bathtub next to his toilet in Watford, Hertfordshire. Akuoko had been operating under the name Tribal Foods for over three years, supplying ready meals to supermarkets and corner shops with inappropriately long use-by dates.
The discovery of the bathtub storage facility was made by firefighters during a fire outbreak at Akuoko's home on Haines Way in October 2024. The investigation revealed huge quantities of fish in the bath and on the floor of the bathroom next to the toilet. Akuoko initially claimed the food was for personal consumption, but a week later, his unlabelled products were found in a local shop with CCTV footage showing he had made three deliveries to the store.
The owner of the shop later pleaded guilty to two food safety offences. Prosecutor Michael Coley stated that the investigation into Tribal Foods was launched after ready meals with inappropriately long use-by dates and a lack of detail on ingredients were found in local shops. Akuoko was difficult to track down and became aggressive when officers spoke to him on the phone.
As a result, Akuoko was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence and a five-year ban from operating any food business. The authorities have taken steps to ensure that the public is protected from such incidents in the future. The situation serves as a reminder of the importance of food safety and proper storage facilities.
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