At least 18 residents of Atwedie in the Asante Akyem South District of the Ashanti Region have been hospitalised after consuming a meal of rice and beans, popularly known as ‘waakye’.
It is reported that the stew often added to the black pepper known as ‘shito’, was contaminated with a poisonous substance.
Victims were reportedly complaining of stomach aches and diarrhoea after consuming the dish, with the food vendor herself also falling victim to the suspected poison.
All victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention with one of them undergoing surgery due to the severity of the effect.
Some residents have been accusing the vendor of contaminating the stew which has affected many people who bought the ‘waakye’ earlier.
However, neighbours in an interview with Kumasi-based Kessben FM expressed doubt about the vendor’s involvement in the incident but rather suspected her landlord whom they say is in a strained relationship with the woman.
There have been similar cases of food poisoning this year.
Five people died after eating ‘waakye’ they bought at the popular Oyibi Bush Canteen Junction, in Accra in January this year.
About 40 people were reportedly affected, out of which five, including a pregnant woman and a lotto vendor, died.
In March 2023 also, a teaching assistant at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, a constituent of the University of Media, Arts, and Communication(UniMAC), died of alleged food poisoning in March 2023.