Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has shut down 16 food service establishments in the Greater Accra Region for operating without valid Food Hygiene Permits, in an enforcement action that has quickly drawn public attention because it includes several well-known venues.
The FDA’s move, reported by local media on Thursday, is part of a wider regulatory drive aimed at ensuring restaurants and food operators meet minimum public health standards required under Ghana’s food safety rules.
Among the businesses named in reports were The Cheesecake House and Alora Beach Resort, both of which are popular with customers in Accra. The FDA’s list also included other outlets operating in the region.
Why the FDA is taking action
Food hygiene permits are a key requirement for food businesses in Ghana. Regulators say the permit is meant to confirm that a facility has met basic hygiene and safety conditions, including standards linked to sanitation, food handling, storage, waste management, and overall operating environment.
While closures like this often trigger debate on social media, public health experts typically argue that enforcement is necessary because food safety failures can lead to outbreaks of food-borne illness, especially in densely populated areas and high-traffic commercial spaces.
In the FDA’s enforcement posture, the focus is not only on punitive measures but also on forcing compliance, so that businesses meet standards before they are allowed to operate.
The enforcement timeline
Reports indicate the FDA’s action follows a broader warning to operators to regularize documentation and comply with permitting requirements. MyJoyOnline reported that the FDA had issued a public notice that facilities operating without valid permits risked closure if they failed to comply by a specified deadline.
Thursday’s closures suggest that inspectors found some businesses still operating without the required permits, prompting immediate action.
What happens to affected businesses
The FDA has not, in the cited reports, announced a specific reopening timeline for the affected outlets. However, regulatory closures of this nature typically require operators to address identified compliance gaps, apply for the relevant permits (or renew them), and undergo follow-up inspections before resuming business.
In many cases, businesses also engage directly with regulators to clarify what steps must be taken to meet the required standard.
What we know, and what we don’t
What we know: The FDA closed 16 food service establishments in Greater Accra for operating without valid Food Hygiene Permits, and some outlets were named in published reports.
What we don’t know yet: Whether any of the listed outlets will contest the closures, the full set of compliance issues at each site (beyond the permit status), and the exact timeline for potential reopening.
