Running a food business in Ghana means more than just cooking delicious meals—it also means staying compliant with the law. Whether you’re selling waakye from a roadside kiosk or operating a small restaurant through delivery platforms, getting licensed is key to protecting your business and gaining customer trust. Here’s what you need to know about getting your food service permit in Ghana.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA Ghana) is the main body responsible for issuing licenses and hygiene permits to food service establishments. This includes street vendors, food trucks, restaurants, and caterers. The FDA works under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851) to make sure food served to the public is safe.
A food hygiene permit is an official document from the FDA that approves your business to prepare and sell food. You’re legally required to get one if you sell any food to the public. This permit proves that your cooking area is safe, clean, and meets health standards.
To apply for a food hygiene permit, follow these steps:
The Chief Executive
Food and Drugs Authority
P.O. Box CT 2783
Cantonments, Accra
To apply for a food hygiene permit from the FDA, you’ll need to prepare and submit several key documents. These include your business registration certificate, health test certificates for all food handlers (covering TB, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A), and a floor plan or layout of your cooking facility. You’ll also need to pay the required licensing fee based on the FDA’s official fee schedule. Once all documents are ready, submit them to the nearest FDA office or their main headquarters. If you operate more than one location, you’ll be required to meet additional standards, such as having a designated food safety manager and access to a cold storage van for transporting food.
Your permit will be ready in about 2 months if everything is in order. If the FDA finds safety issues during inspection, they’ll notify you to fix them. You’ll need to respond within 3 months or reapply.
A food hygiene permit is valid for 1 year and must be renewed before it expires. Renewals also require health certificates and proof that staff have been trained in food safety.
The FDA can suspend, cancel, or withdraw your permit if you break food safety rules. You may also be fined under Section 148 of the Public Health Act, 2012. That’s why staying compliant and updating your documents regularly is better.
Getting licensed as a food vendor in Ghana might seem like a long process, but it’s worth it. It protects your customers, gives your business credibility, and helps you grow, especially if you want to partner with delivery platforms like Glovo, Bolt Food, or Hubtel.
If you’re ready to take your food business seriously, visit the FDA Ghana website or your local FDA office and begin your application today.
Your food is excellent—make it official.
