A Sanitation court in Accra has fined two persons an amount of GH₵960 each equivalent to 80 penalty unit for allowing their herd of cattle to stray, causing traffic congestion and posing danger to motorists in the Metropolis.
The two Issah Oblikwei , 58 and Rafik Tagoe 40 , were also ordered by the court presided over by Juliana Osei, to relocate their cattle from the James Town – Slaughter slum opposite the Fire Academy and Training School (FATS) on the Cleland road in Accra within three months.
According to the Prosecuting Officer, Nii Okai Aryee of the Public Health Department of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), the herdsmen were arrested by the Assembly’s Environmental Health Officers during their routine inspection within the metropolis on Tuesday June 19, 2019 when they spotted stray cattle numbering 21 along the Korle Bu main road.
The court also fined Kamal Alhassan, a squatter an amount of GH₵240 for building at unauthorised location after she pleaded guilty.
She was given a three months ultimatum to demolish the structures located at Adedenkpo in Accra.
Three other squatters Mary Odurowaa 36, Richard Yaaba 40 and Jacob Norgbegi 50, who pleaded not guilty were also granted a bail of GH₵1500 each.
All four squatters were arrested following a bench warrant issued by the court.
Head of the AMA Public Health Department, Florence Kuukyi, in an interview said straying of cattle in the Metropolis posed a serious nuisance to motorists and pedestrians.
She said under the Assembly’s 2017 bye-laws “it is an offence for cattle owners to bring their cattle to the residential areas and the streets” adding that the law mandates owners to confine their kraal outside residential and other unauthorized areas.
She explained that it is prohibited for a person to keep swine, cattle, sheep or goat and other wildlife in any town/community in the area of authority of the Assembly, without a permit issued by the Assembly for that purpose.
“Notwithstanding the above provisions a person may keep animals within the area of authority of the Assembly for the purpose of domestic, religious, commercial or customary purpose if that person ensures that the animal is kept in a well maintained pen/kraal and always kept clean,” she added.
Madam Florence mentioned that in the case of large numbers of cattle, owners must ensure that sanitary and other conditions or rules specified by the Environmental Health Department, (EPA), and other relevant agencies were adhered to, cattle restricted to a well-defined grazing area and does not constitute a nuisance by stench or noise to neighbours and attended to by certified veterinary officers.
She disclosed that in the case of goats and sheep the number to be kept in any “dwelling house” shall not exceed 10.
She admonished all citizens, to be law abiding to ensure a clean city where all could live in and love it.
