Health Risk Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticides Contaminations in Dairy Products from Selected Farms in Greater Accra Region-Ghana

The study was geared towards ascertaining the levels of synthetic pyrethroids and organochlorine pesticides residues in dairy products(milk, cheese and yoghurt) from selected farms in Greater Accra Region of Ghana. In all fifty (50) samples of dairy products (25 fresh cow milk, 9 cheese and 16 yoghurt) were analyzed. Detectable levels of organochlorine pesticides,OCPs(β-HCH, endrin, endosulfan, p’p’-DDT, heptachlor and methoxychlor) and Synthetic pyrethroids(permethrin, allethrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin and cyfluthrin). Ultrasonic extraction was employed and extract clean-up was done using silica gel and analyzed using a gas chromatograph (Agilent Model 6890 Gas Chromatograph) equipped with Ni-63 electron capture detector (ECD). . Milk samples were found to be the most contaminated with respect to the OCPs and the levels ranged between 0.0001μg/ml and 0.0407μg/ml. β-HCH was the highest OCP with concentration of 0.0407μg/ml while Cyfluthrin was the highest synthetic pyrethroids recorded in yoghurt sample (0.0318μg/ml).The levels of organochlorine pesticide residues detected in all the tissues were below the accepted Maximum Residue Limits (MRL), as adopted by the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission (2005). Keywords: dairy products, organochlorine pesticides, synthetic pyrethroid, health risk, Ghana, gas chromatograph

COMMUNICATION PROJECT: SAFETY CAMPAIGN (Boa me na mboa wo)

Situation Details will be supplied by VP SHE but briefly LTI and fatality figures on the mine are relatively high, notwithstanding achievements made in the past. Given the current changes to radically transform AGA operations in Ghana, we therefore need a new approach to meet the safety needs of the AGA operations. Tagged new “model of safety culture”, it envisages short and long terms changes, root and branch, in the design, drawing and implementation of safety strategy, whose implementation will be people friendly. Based on systems thinking approach, the assumption of the strategy is that success cannot be achieved without the active support of stakeholders on the mine - EXCO, Line managers, Heads of Department, mine captains, supervisors and even the shovel boy. The success of the new strategy is highly contingent on team work, interdependence and each and every one been his brother keeper; which literally translates ‘for our common good and survival watch my back and let me watch your back’. In addition, we will also need the support and in most cases, of government agencies, such as the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Inspectorate of Mines, the Municipal authorities as well as our contractors. We also need the support of the immediate communities and our dependents. 0bjectives To reposition safety in the minds of employees/stakeholders as our first value To sustain and expand safety awareness among employees and immediate communities To build new culture of safety based on modern practices To reduce, if not eliminate, safety accidents To ensure employees work safely and responsibly To transform AGA operations as world’s safest operation The question is - With management support, management resources and current goodwill of the employees, how can the Communication Department use meaningful communication to position the new ‘model of safety culture’ in the minds of employees and other relevant stakeholders, in order to win their hearts and minds to participate and support the transformation of safety in the operations - in order to reduce accidents by 70% in 5years and make AGA (Ghana) the preferred brand in Continental Africa Region? General Issues for discussions MANAGEMENT support and Management Resources is very key. Training/Development for Exco Members, Safety Officers, Line Managers, etc Bill boarding to communicate symbols Use of internet/Websites Use of Newsletters Car Stickers Tee Shirts Float thro Obuasi Use of Radio –Shaft Reinforce messages via Safety Meetings Institute Best Employee Award on Safety Payslips/Envelopes for corres[pondance should be branded with safety Special Fora – event to unveil Text messages Pamphleteering –extensive use of posters and flyers Key Messages (What are we going to communicate?) Context Concept of Team work Interdependence Engagement Literally watching your colleague’s back Brother’s Keeper Everybody should be Conscious of safety Simply we can’t succeed without cooperation and poor safety record Therefore safety is not only the responsibility of management neither is it the sole responsibility of safety officers alone; It is the responsibility of individual employees as well Relevance of safety to AGA success (Safety and its importance to the overall AGA rating, reputation, branding and bottom line) Social costs Economics (cost, market rating) Benefits/value creation - Individual employees - Communities/stakeholders - Company(ratings, cost/production Ethical Considerations - Cost Burden - S/hared Benefits - Loss of rights - Sharing of cost and burden Action Plan for Programme Outdooring Event (What do we do to ensure the new strategy is positioned in the minds of employees and our immediate stakeholders – participation and buy out) - Publish simple flyers to explain new safety project for employees/stakeholders - Local Radio Programme to introduce the project/Safety facilitator to move it forward - Put bill boards at vantage points on the mine - Introduce programme through safety meetings on Tuesday/Thursdays - Celebration of independence? This is an opportunity to unveil it to employees’ dependents and other stakeholders in our own fringe platform - Distribution of branded Tee Shirts to employees/public and possibly a float on the Obuasi high road - Short film on safety - Joint employees/communities’ event to unveil programme – Cutifani address/unveiling - Distribution of branded car stickers to both employees and general public - Sustain - campaign with special session for Contractors/Suppliers - Dramatisation sessions with Actors for employees - More and more training Phase Two More and more training for employees Line Managers/HODs intensify campaigns in all meetings Safety Meetings should keep up Regular collation and collection of feedbacks More use of audio visuals to share information Brand Len Clay with meerkat Accra office leg of branding and communication Independent assessment and evaluation in first six month

COMMUNICATION PROJECT: SAFETY CAMPAIGN (Boa me na mboa wo)

Situation Details will be supplied by VP SHE but briefly LTI and fatality figures on the mine are relatively high, notwithstanding achievements made in the past. Given the current changes to radically transform AGA operations in Ghana, we therefore need a new approach to meet the safety needs of the AGA operations. Tagged new “model of safety culture”, it envisages short and long terms changes, root and branch, in the design, drawing and implementation of safety strategy, whose implementation will be people friendly. Based on systems thinking approach, the assumption of the strategy is that success cannot be achieved without the active support of stakeholders on the mine - EXCO, Line managers, Heads of Department, mine captains, supervisors and even the shovel boy. The success of the new strategy is highly contingent on team work, interdependence and each and every one been his brother keeper; which literally translates ‘for our common good and survival watch my back and let me watch your back’. In addition, we will also need the support and in most cases, of government agencies, such as the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Inspectorate of Mines, the Municipal authorities as well as our contractors. We also need the support of the immediate communities and our dependents. 0bjectives To reposition safety in the minds of employees/stakeholders as our first value To sustain and expand safety awareness among employees and immediate communities To build new culture of safety based on modern practices To reduce, if not eliminate, safety accidents To ensure employees work safely and responsibly To transform AGA operations as world’s safest operation The question is - With management support, management resources and current goodwill of the employees, how can the Communication Department use meaningful communication to position the new ‘model of safety culture’ in the minds of employees and other relevant stakeholders, in order to win their hearts and minds to participate and support the transformation of safety in the operations - in order to reduce accidents by 70% in 5years and make AGA (Ghana) the preferred brand in Continental Africa Region? General Issues for discussions MANAGEMENT support and Management Resources is very key. Training/Development for Exco Members, Safety Officers, Line Managers, etc Bill boarding to communicate symbols Use of internet/Websites Use of Newsletters Car Stickers Tee Shirts Float thro Obuasi Use of Radio –Shaft Reinforce messages via Safety Meetings Institute Best Employee Award on Safety Payslips/Envelopes for corres[pondance should be branded with safety Special Fora – event to unveil Text messages Pamphleteering –extensive use of posters and flyers Key Messages (What are we going to communicate?) Context Concept of Team work Interdependence Engagement Literally watching your colleague’s back Brother’s Keeper Everybody should be Conscious of safety Simply we can’t succeed without cooperation and poor safety record Therefore safety is not only the responsibility of management neither is it the sole responsibility of safety officers alone; It is the responsibility of individual employees as well Relevance of safety to AGA success (Safety and its importance to the overall AGA rating, reputation, branding and bottom line) Social costs Economics (cost, market rating) Benefits/value creation - Individual employees - Communities/stakeholders - Company(ratings, cost/production Ethical Considerations - Cost Burden - S/hared Benefits - Loss of rights - Sharing of cost and burden Action Plan for Programme Outdooring Event (What do we do to ensure the new strategy is positioned in the minds of employees and our immediate stakeholders – participation and buy out) - Publish simple flyers to explain new safety project for employees/stakeholders - Local Radio Programme to introduce the project/Safety facilitator to move it forward - Put bill boards at vantage points on the mine - Introduce programme through safety meetings on Tuesday/Thursdays - Celebration of independence? This is an opportunity to unveil it to employees’ dependents and other stakeholders in our own fringe platform - Distribution of branded Tee Shirts to employees/public and possibly a float on the Obuasi high road - Short film on safety - Joint employees/communities’ event to unveil programme – Cutifani address/unveiling - Distribution of branded car stickers to both employees and general public - Sustain - campaign with special session for Contractors/Suppliers - Dramatisation sessions with Actors for employees - More and more training Phase Two More and more training for employees Line Managers/HODs intensify campaigns in all meetings Safety Meetings should keep up Regular collation and collection of feedbacks More use of audio visuals to share information Brand Len Clay with meerkat Accra office leg of branding and communication Independent assessment and evaluation in first six month