The absence of strict enforcement and effective monitoring have been identified as major hindrances to Ghana's bid to achieving 90 percent household consumption of iodised salt.
Ms Rebecca Ahun, Officer in charge of the Universal Salt Iodisation Programme at UNICEF, told the GNA in Accra that recent household surveys indicate that about 90 percent of consumers are aware of the importance of using iodised salt.
She said iodised salt coverage rate increased from 0.7 per cent in 1997 to a little more than 40 per cent by 2003. The rate increased to 74. 1 per cent in 2005 due to vigorous enforcement of iodized salt regulations. However, recent figures indicate that the rate has now dropped.
"Recent surveys show that only 32 per cent of households have their salt adequately iodised," she said, and stressed the need for enforcement agencies to step up monitoring to ensure that all salt consumed in the country met the standards prescribed by law.
Ms Ahun said once salt was moved from the production sites to the markets for sale, it was important for checks to be conducted along the routes to stop those not iodised.
She said UNICEF was assisting the Food and Drugs Board in the monitoring exercise, and that the Board would soon begin a training programme for security personnel to help in monitoring and enforcement.
Mr Jacob Armah of the Nutrition Unit of the Ghana Health Service, said there was also the need for adequate and constant supply of potassium iodide, the chemical used to iodise raw salt, to help increase the coverage and usage of iodated salt.
ECOWAS has agreed to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) through the promotion of a Universal Salt Iodisation programme and the increased consumption of iodated salt.
Figures from UNICEF show that the availability of iodised salt in the West African sub-Region, excluding Nigeria which has achieved 98 per cent of iodised salt usage, is only 46 per cent.
Production of quality iodised salt in Ghana would therefore benefit not only Ghanaians but also millions of people in the sub-region.
Ghana has passed a law banning the production and sale of non-iodised salt for human and animal consumption, but issues of monitoring, enforcement and the lack of political will, appear to hamper the increased usage of iodised salt.
Meanwhile, health experts have identified brain damage to children, miscarriage, infant deaths, mental retardation, goitre, lack of energy and sluggishness among others, as health conditions associated with iodine deficiency disorders.
Ghana is a major salt producing country and churns out around 250,000 metric tons a year, of which about 40 per cent is consumed within the country and the rest exported to other countries in the sub-region.