Bryan Acheampong, Food and Agriculture Minister
The government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has lifted the ban on the movement of ruminants and donkeys, slaughtering, sale, and consumption of meat and meat products in the Upper East Region.
The Ministry on May 31, 2023, imposed the ban in the Binduri district of the region, following reports and confirmed cases of anthrax, an acute bacteria disease transferable from animals to humans.
However, the Ministry, in a statement, disclosed that the situation has since been contained with no recorded case of the disease since June 14, 2023, hence the lifting of the ban.
“The situation has since been contained with no recorded case of the disease since 14th June 2023. In view of the above, and based on expert advice, the ban on the movement of ruminants and donkeys, slaughtering, sale, and consumption of meat and meat products in the Upper East Region is hereby lifted effective Tuesday, 11th July 2023,” it said.
Enforcement
Additionally, the Ministry indicated that strict measures will be enforced despite the ban to ensure that animal slaughter is done under close supervision by veterinary officers.
“Notwithstanding this directive, the following measures will apply and be strictly enforced: the slaughter of all animals should be under close supervision of the veterinary and environmental health officers at designated abattoirs and slaughter slabs,” it said.
“Food vendors/ restaurants and owners/butchers will be arrested and prosecuted for the sale of meat and meat products of animals whose slaughtering was not supervised by the veterinary or environmental health officers; all dead animals should be promptly reported to veterinary or environmental health officers as well as people in authority for immediate investigation; at all costs, the public is advised to desist from eating the meat of animals found dead,” it added.
It noted that as precautionary and proactive action, it will continue the vaccination of animals against the anthrax disease, intensification of surveillance of animal and human anthrax, as well as the sensitisation of the populace on the prevention of anthrax.
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