Participants at the launching
A body to sensitise Ghanaians on the need to place value, care and love for animals has been launched in Accra.
The non-profit making organisation christened, “African Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW), is focused on championing the welfare of animals such as paying attention and proper care to both domestic and wild animals.
Launching the ANAW, in Accra yesterday, Stephen Attatsi, chairman of the organisation, bemoaned the lack of appropriate platforms, legislation and policy on animal welfare in the country.
He noted that other African countries like Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania had recorded tremendous strides in the welfare of animals by enacting laws to deal with such issues.
Animal welfare, he said, was currently an issue of global concern and great significance, hence the need for Ghana to join forces with the global community to give it much more attention.
Mr Attatsi said that could be achieved by putting in place necessary structures and institutions like ANAW and appropriate legislations and policies to help champion the course, and called for increased protection and welfare of animals in the country, adding that “treating them fairly is an act of God.”
Mr Attatsi expressed the determination to lobby and engage all stakeholders, particularly government, academia, slaughter houses, and butchers to find better ways of handling animals to reduce the stress and the shock they went through before being slaughtered.
Touching on animal transportation, he said the principal requirement was to convey them in vehicles designed according to standards, “to avoid injuring the animals.”
A representative from the Ministry of Communication, Nenyi Kobina Andah, reminded operators of slaughter houses and other users of meat to be hygiene-conscious to avoid the spread of diseases and enhance meat quality.
By BENEDICTA GYIMAAH FOLLEY
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