OVER 30 persons, mostly women, were taken ill at the weekend, following suspected food poisoning at Jacobu, the district capital of Amansie Central in the Ashanti Region after they consumed meals at an endorsement party of the District Chief Executive (DCE), Dede Appiah.
The incident took place late Friday evening when the victims complained of stomach upset and giddiness after they ate food during the refreshment in the afternoon.
They were immediately rushed to the St Peter�s Catholic Hospital one after the other, where they were hospitalized, Ernest Addai aka High Auto, one of the victims, told Daily Guide.
According to Mr Addai, a renowned photographer, samples of the foods consisting of banku, fufu and plain rice served to about 100 guests at the party had been sent for testing at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
He said the foods were cooked by three different persons including the wife of the newly endorsed DCE, Dede Appiah.
Addai, who doubles as a spinner, narrated that although the actual source of the outbreak had not been confirmed, many of the affected persons have linked the cases to the consumption of one of the cooked rice.
He indicated that medical staff who treated them said they suspected the food had been contaminated, asserting that one officer noted that �it appears to be a case of poisoning but they will have to wait for investigating report.�
A police source which confirmed the incident said no offence had been registered with the local police so far, and pointed out that the police would collaborate with medical team to conduct a thorough investigation.
DCE Dede Appiah was not available for comment as calls to his personal cell phone were not answered.
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