UK-Based Ghanaian Businessman Jailed for Storing Fish in Bathtub and Beside Toilet
ST ALBANS, UK – A UK-based Ghanaian businessman has been sentenced to two years in prison for serious food safety offenses after he was found storing fish in unhygienic conditions inside his flat — including in a bathtub and on the floor next to a toilet.
Stephen Akuoko, 62, who ran Tribal Foods in Watford, was also banned from operating any food business for five years and ordered to pay the equivalent of $3,340 (approximately £2,600) in costs within three years, St Albans Crown Court heard.
Prosecutors told the court that Akuoko supplied ready meals to supermarkets and small shops, but his production methods posed a significant risk to public health. Investigators discovered fish stored in unsanitary conditions inside his flat, with no proper separation from household waste or cleaning areas.
Some products were found to have excessively long use-by dates and lacked proper ingredient labels, making it impossible for consumers to make informed choices or identify potential allergens, the court was told.
Even after receiving official notices to cease distribution, Akuoko continued supplying the meals. The court described his actions as a “flagrant disregard for the law.”
Akuoko pleaded guilty to two food safety offenses, including failing to comply with a remedial action notice.
In sentencing, the judge emphasized the danger posed to unsuspecting customers, particularly those with allergies or dietary requirements. The five-year ban from running any food business was imposed to prevent further risk to the public.
No immediate comment has been issued by Akuoko or his legal representatives.
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