The Member of Parliament for Klottey-Korle, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called for the establishment of affordable staff cafeteria facilities within corporate and institutional premises to enhance worker welfare, improve sanitation and strengthen urban security management.
Making a statement on the floor of Parliament on Monday March 16 2026, the lawmaker said the absence of accessible and affordable food services in many institutions forces lower-income workers to depend on roadside vendors operating around office premises and government facilities.
According to her, many large establishments including ministries, hospitals, banks and major private sector organisations, employ workers across different income levels, from cleaners and security personnel to clerical staff, managers and chief executives. However, food services available within such institutions are often priced beyond the reach of the lowest-paid employees.
She noted that the situation compels many workers to leave their workplaces during lunch hours to buy food from informal vendors operating on roadsides, pavements and sometimes near high-security or ceremonial zones.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings warned that the growing reliance on roadside food vendors creates several challenges for urban authorities and institutions. She explained that it undermines efforts by metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to enforce sanitation and decongestion regulations.
She further pointed out that the presence of food vendors around critical installations contributes to congestion and can make it difficult to maintain order and security in areas where strict control is required.
Beyond the security and planning implications, the MP raised concerns about the health risks associated with unregulated food stating that workers who depend on such informal arrangements may be exposed to unsafe or unhygienic food conditions, which could affect their health and productivity.
The Klottey-Korle legislator noted that some existing initiatives demonstrate how the challenge can be addressed through deliberate planning and inclusive facility design.
She cited the Rawlings Canteen within the Ministries enclave as an example of a facility that provides accessible and affordable meals to a wide range of public servants working in nearby government departments. The canteen offers several local dishes including beans stew with fried plantain, fufu, banku and rice meals.
Another example, she said, is the food court located within the Opeibea House parking complex, where vendors operate within designated spaces integrated into the building infrastructure. Vendors there pay modest monthly fees that contribute to sanitation and maintenance of the facility.
According to Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings, such models demonstrate that when food services are intentionally incorporated into institutional infrastructure and priced to accommodate workers of all income levels, the pressure that pushes vendors and workers into unauthorised public spaces significantly reduces.
She therefore urged relevant regulatory authorities including the Ministry of Works and Housing, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, as well as metropolitan and municipal assemblies to develop policy guidelines encouraging large institutions and corporate entities to integrate affordable cafeteria or food court facilities within their premises.
The lawmaker suggested that such facilities should be incorporated into planning approvals for major developments and designed to cater for all categories of workers regardless of their income levels.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings emphasized that embedding affordable food services within workplace environments would improve worker welfare, support orderly urban management and strengthen compliance with local regulations.
She described the proposal as a practical and preventive approach that would benefit institutions, employees and the wider public.
By: Christian Kpesese
