Arrest Dog, Cat Meat Eaters – ICS Petitions Health Minister
Persons who consume dog and cat meat as food in Ghana should be considered to have committed a crime, the Institute of Community Sustainability (ICS) and petitioned the Health Minister to sponsor a legislation to that effect in Parliament, as a matter of urgency.
The group, a civil society organization, argues that dogs and pets are not live stock meant for food “but vital members of our homes and our national community”.
A statement signed by Institute’s Executive Director, Eric Jerry Aidoo said: “cats and dogs serve a purpose far beyond food. They are, Family Companions: Providing emotional support and companionship to children and the elderly alike… By treating these animals as meat, we diminish their value as loyal partners in our daily lives and undermine the social fabric of our communities.”
Executive Director, Eric Jerry Aidoo, in the press statement said, the continued consumption of cats and dogs poses significant health risks to the public, particularly in communities where animals are slaughtered under unsafe conditions.
In addition, the Institute is calling on Ghana’s Parliament to pass a legislation which would criminalize people from trading, transporting, and selling of cat and dog meat.
The statement noted: “The Institute of Community Sustainability (ICS) is formally calling on the Minister of Health to take immediate and decisive action. We demand the following:
“A Total Ban: An immediate prohibition on the slaughter of cats and dogs for human consumption.
“Criminalization: The passing of legislation to criminalize the trade, transport, and sale of cat and dog meat.
“Public Awareness: A national health campaign to educate citizens on the zoonotic risks associated with these meats” part of the statement reads.
The statement read in full:
Cats and Dogs are Family, Not Meat
The Institute of Community Sustainability (ICS), led by Executive Director Eric Jerry Aidoo, is officially declaring its stance against the high consumption of cats and dogs in Ghana. We are calling on the government, the media, and the general public to recognize that these animals are not livestock, but vital members of our homes and our national community.
The Role of Cats and Dogs in Our Society
At ICS, we believe that cats and dogs serve a purpose far beyond food. They are, Family Companions: Providing emotional support and companionship to children and the elderly alike.
Security Guides: Serving as essential protectors and early warning systems for our homes and businesses.
By treating these animals as meat, we diminish their value as loyal partners in our daily lives and undermine the social fabric of our communities.
A Grave Threat to Public Health
Beyond the moral implications, the consumption of cat and dog meat presents a deadly risk to human health. The unregulated slaughter and handling of these animals are direct pathways for the transmission of life-threatening diseases, including:
Rabies: A fatal viral disease often spread during the handling of infected dogs.
Trichinellosis: A dangerous parasitic infection caused by consuming contaminated meat.
Cholera: Often spread through the unsanitary conditions inherent in the illegal animal meat trade.
Official Call to Action
The Institute of Community Sustainability (ICS) is formally calling on the Minister of Health to take immediate and decisive action. We demand the following:
A Total Ban: An immediate prohibition on the slaughter of cats and dogs for human consumption.
Criminalization: The passing of legislation to criminalize the trade, transport, and sale of cat and dog meat.
Public Awareness: A national health campaign to educate citizens on the zoonotic risks associated with these meats.
We cannot sit idly by while public health is put at risk and our loyal companions are mistreated, says Eric Jerry Aidoo, Executive Director of ICS. It is time for Ghana to align with global health standards and ethical practices. Cats and dogs are our family, they deserve protection, not the slaughterhouse.
The ICS remains committed to building a sustainable, healthy, and compassionate Ghana. We urge the media to amplify this message and for the public to join us in this vital cause.
Signed,
Eric Jerry Aidoo
Executive Director
Institute of Community Sustainability (ICS)
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