GH Businessman In UK Convicted For Storing Fish In Bathtub Next To Toilet And Selling It To Customers

08 Apr 2026, 21:36 by Armani Brooklyn · GHANA PAGE

A Ghanaian businessman based in the United Kingdom, Stephen Akuoko, has been convicted on multiple food safety charges after authorities uncovered shocking conditions under which he allegedly processed and sold fish products.

Akuoko, who operated under the name Tribal Foods, was found to have been storing fish in his bathtub and on the bathroom floor next to a toilet before preparing and distributing the products to customers and local supermarkets.

The discovery was made in October 2024 when firefighters responded to a blaze at his residence on Haines Way. During the emergency response, they reportedly found large quantities of fish stored in unsanitary conditions within the bathroom.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the food products were unfit for human consumption.

Authorities also flagged issues, including excessively long use-by dates and a lack of proper ingredient labelling.

Although Akuoko initially assured officials that he would cease operations, further checks uncovered unlabelled products linked to him in a local shop. CCTV footage later confirmed that he had made multiple deliveries to the store even after the warning.

Akuoko pleaded guilty to two food safety offences. He was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence and banned from operating any food business for five years.

Court proceedings also revealed that the businessman had faced significant personal and financial difficulties prior to the incident. He reportedly lost an expensive legal battle, became homeless, and was placed in social housing before establishing Tribal Foods.

The business is said to have initially operated from a rented kitchen before being moved to his residence, where the illegal practices were eventually uncovered.