UNICEF project leader Rebecca Ahun has diagnosed the root cause of Ghana's problem-plagued salt iodization efforts: weak government monitoring and enforcement efforts as reported by the Ghana News Agency.

"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."