Evaluating sanitation practices among stationary street food vendors within the nima-mamobi communities of Ayawaso East Municipality of Greater Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Street food is any ready to eat food or beverage sold and sometimes prepared in outdoor public spaces which may include streets, squares, parks, open-air markets, and others by vendors or cooks on the move (hawkers) or stationary. Food and water-borne diarrheal diseases are estimated to cause between 450,000–700,000 deaths in Africa annually. This study adopted a quantitative and qualitative research approach using structured questionnaires with predetermined responses and Likert scale in the data collection and analysis. The non-probability sampling technique specifically convenience sampling was used to collect data from customers. Hence, 100 stationary street food vendors in Nima Mamobi which is located in the capital city of Ghana were purposively selected to participate in the study using the Yamane formula. The target population for a survey is the entire set of units for which the survey data are to be used to make inferences. The data collection instrument is a questionnaire divided into sections a, b, c, and d. The analysis and debate are presented in this chapter. To answer the research questions, the discussion was done about the review of literature in chapter two. As a result, the study's findings were compared to the relevant ideas and concepts presented in the literature review. The findings are divided into eight sections, each of which focuses on one of the research issues. The study recommends that the waste management services should also be checked for punctuality and regularity, Owners of stray animals should be given occasional cautions and their animals given limited access to certain parts of the twin towns, there should also be research to determine the quality of food and water available at these vending areas. It was then concluded that the people of Nima – Mamobi did not express much knowledge about food safety practices as they did not perform proper sanitary practices.