Awoshie plantain chips vendors protest Angel FM
Dozens of plantain chips vendors from the popular Awoshie BaaYard market on Saturday staged a spirited protest at the premises of Angel 102.9 FM in Accra.
The traders are demanding an immediate apology and a retraction of claims made on the station suggesting that some vendors add plastics or rubber to frying oil to enhance the crispiness of their chips.
The aggrieved vendors, who converged on the station’s premises in the morning, accused a presenter of spreading “false and damaging” information. According to the traders, these allegations have led to a sharp decline in sales and have unfairly stigmatized their business.
Carrying placards and samples of their products, the vendors vehemently denied the claims, describing them as baseless rumors. They maintained that the crunchiness of their chips is achieved through traditional methods, including precise oil temperatures and proper slicing techniques, rather than illegal additives.
“Our livelihoods are being destroyed by these lies. We use fresh plantains and quality oil. No one melts rubber here; it is purely professional work,” one of the lead protesters stated.
It will be recalled that similar allegations of “plastic oil” have circulated in Ghana for years. However, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has previously debunked such claims, explaining that plastics do not dissolve in oil to enhance food texture and that such practices lack scientific basis.
Indications are that the viral nature of the recent report has caused significant panic among consumers, further hurting small-scale businesses in an already difficult economic climate.
As of the time of filing this report, the management of Angel FM had not issued an official statement regarding the protest or the specific broadcast that triggered the agitation.
The traders have, however, vowed to continue their agitation until their reputations are cleared and the media house takes responsibility for the reportage.
