Five people have died and forty hospitalised after eating popular Waakye at Bush Canteen junction, Oyibi in the Greater Accra Region.
The tragic incident happened yesterday on Friday, January 20, 2023.
The Waakye seller popularly known as Yellow Sisi and some of her family members were among the victims after they ate the food and are currently hospitalized.
The nearest hospital, Valley View Hospital was overwhelmed by the number of victims who were rushed to the facility for treatment and it had to turn away some of the patients to seek treatment from other hospitals.
The victims complained of severe stomach aches and up to now it remains unclear what led to the poisoning.
Among those who died include a pregnant woman and a lotto vendor.
One of the doctors, Dr Esther Danquah of the Kpone Katamanso District Hospital confirmed the incident to Daily Graphic. Sharing her statement;
As at now, some other people are still visiting the hospital and, therefore, until all the necessary laboratory tests are complete, we cannot give specific data on the number of people who have been affected or whatever it was indeed a case of food poisoning.
A widow of one of the deceased men said;
He started complaining that Friday that he was not feeling well, but we thought it was a normal thing. It was later when it became severe that we rushed him to the hospital but he did not survive.
The Waakye joint has been closed down as the Oyibi police and Food and Drugs Authority launch an investigation into the incident.
