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Tag: Animal

  • You are what you eat; be vigilant when buying animal products – Veterinary Services Directorate warns public

    You are what you eat; be vigilant when buying animal products – Veterinary Services Directorate warns public

    The public has urged to take caution with the animal products they consume to safeguard their health, as the Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) highlights its challenges in ensuring product safety.

    Speaking at the launch of this year’s Food Safety Month in Accra, the Greater Accra Regional Veterinary Director, Dr. Joseph Kofi Abuh, emphasized the importance of being mindful of the quality of animal products purchased, especially given the ongoing resistance faced by the VSD and resource limitations.

    “You are what you eat so when buying food, especially animal prod­ucts and you are told this animal is not in good condition, it’s not from recognised sources, it unhealthy for consumption and you buy because it’s cheap, it’s your own health you are putting at risk.

    “We are the authority for animal health and veterinary public health but we are constrained in terms of fi­nances, human resources, and logistics among others.

    “…Our officers on the ground are sometimes physically abused, we don’t always have the full cooperation of the police to enforce the law. Some of these butchers also have political backings, if not, slaughterhouses in Accra, like Tulaku, Avenor and Jamestown should have been closed down by now because we have raised alarm several times of the unhealthy practices at these places,” the Greater Accra Regional Veterinary Director, Dr Joseph Kofi Abuh, cautioned.

    Under the theme “Food Safety: Preparing for the unexpected,” this year’s awareness campaign aims to underscore the proactive measures needed to manage food safety risks, particularly those related to animal health.

    Dr. Abuh stressed the significance of empowering the VSD fully to prevent foodborne illnesses and maintain the integrity of the food value chain, despite constraints in finances, human resources, and logistics.

    Highlighting the need for legislative support, Dr. Abuh called for the prompt review of the Diseases Animal Act 1961 to enact the Animal Health Bill, which would delineate stakeholder roles along the animal production value chain.

    “We believe the Animal Health Bill is very critical for food security and public health. The bill has been undergoing review since 2010 and is currently with the Attorney General’s office. We want them to speed it up to move it to parliament so it can be passed into law.”

    Echoing these sentiments, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Yaw Fenteng Danso, reiterated the VSD’s commitment to ensuring the safety of animal-derived food products for public consumption.

    Throughout the month-long campaign, activities such as food safety campaigns at slaughterhouses and abattoirs, educational programs in schools, and cooking competitions will be organized by the VSD.

    The initiative comes amid alarming statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), which reports that contaminated food causes illness and death for millions annually, with many diseases originating from animal sources.

  • Trotro kills two pedestrians at Nima

    Trotro kills two pedestrians at Nima

    A distressing video has surfaced online, capturing the devastating moment when two pedestrians lost their lives while attempting to cross the road near the Nima police headquarters in Accra.

    Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the pedestrians were hit by an oncoming vehicle, resulting in fatal injuries. 

    Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the location, but unfortunately, both victims succumbed to their injuries before they could receive medical attention.

    Watch video:

  • Grand National: Animal Rising demonstrates promise to work to halt the race

    Grand National: Animal Rising demonstrates promise to work to halt the race

    An animal rights organization’s announcement that it would attempt to halt today’s Grand National’s race resulted in the arrest of a lady.

    According to the police, the 33-year-old was taken into custody on suspicion of planning to cause a public nuisance in connection with probable organized disruption operations at Aintree.

    The suspect, from the London area, was arrested in Greater Manchester this morning.

    It comes after Animal Rising activists said they were planning to scale fences and storm the track, with up to 300 protesters planning to attend.

    Others plan to block traffic by performing a slow march along the main access route outside Aintree Racecourse.

    Ahead of the arrest, Merseyside Police had warned they have a “robust policing plan in place” and were working with Aintree’s owners, The Jockey Club, in preparation for any incidents.

    ‘Horses will likely die’

    Animal Rising had revealed its plans to disrupt the event in advance.

    Spokesperson Nathan McGovern said: “Animal Rising intends to make sure the Grand National doesn’t even begin.

    “We know that if the race begins, then horses will likely die as Eclair Surf and Discorama did last year. People will attempt to put their bodies between horses and harm by calling the entire race off.”

    The group cites figures from campaigners at Animal Aid that suggest a horse dies every two to three days in UK racing, with Mr McGovern adding: “We want to see an end to that.”

    He went on to stress that activists plan to act before the race starts, and they would not enter the track if horses and jockeys are riding.

    Speaking live from Aintree Racecourse on Sky News Breakfast, Animal Rising spokesperson Claudia Penna Rojas reiterated it would be a “completely non-violent” protest.

    Activists will be demonstrating outside the racecourse before “peacefully” making their way towards the track, she said.

    One horse has already died at the Grand National Festival – Envoye Special – after it fell in the Foxhunters’ Chase just after 4pm on Thursday.

    It is the 60th horse to have died at Aintree in the past 23 years.

    Animal Rising was formerly known as Animal Rebellion, but changed its name earlier this week in order to move away from the umbrella of Extinction Rebellion.

    It plans to target the Grand National were made public when an undercover reporter attended a meeting earlier this month.

    According to The Mail on Sunday, activists are intending to use ladders and bolt cutters to get through the perimeter fencing at Aintree.

    Mr McGovern added: “It’s a spotlight that we really need to be using to push a national conversation about our broken relationship, not only with horses but with all the animals that we use, whether that’s for food, fun, entertainment and dog and horse racing.

    “This is very much about a bigger picture of recognising that, in a nation of animal lovers, we’re not really living up to those values with our actions.”

    A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “We respect the right to peaceful protest and expression of views, but public order or criminal offences will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.”

    Meanwhile, an Aintree Racecourse representative urged Animal Rising to “reflect on whether their proposed actions are legitimate and responsible”.

    They added: “Their actions could endanger the horses they purport to protect, as well as jockeys, officials and themselves.”