Eating Dog Head Does Not Stop Broken Heart – ICS Warns

A belief gaining traction among some women in Ghana’s capital city that consuming the head of a dog can fortify the human heart against emotional pain has been dismissed by the Institute of Community Sustainability (ICS) as baseless and harmful.

In a press statement, the organisation revealed findings from a recent outreach campaign across several communities in Accra pointed to the point that, a significant number of women admitted to eating dog heads on the advice of spiritual leaders, who claim the practice offers protection against heartbreak, infidelity, and marital collapse.

Describing the trend as “deeply troubling,” the Executive Director of ICS, Eric Jerry Aidoo, stressed that emotional resilience cannot be achieved through such means.

“Heartbreak is a psychological and emotional challenge, not a biological or spiritual one that can be cured by consuming an animal, says Eric Jerry Aidoo, Executive Director of ICS. There is no scientific or logical basis to the claim that eating a dog’s head provides emotional fortitude. This is a superstition that causes unnecessary harm to animals and provides a false sense of security to vulnerable women” part of the statement reads.

The findings out of the campaign suggests that the practice is not simply a matter of dietary preference but is rooted in what many participants described as ‘akwankyre’ to mean spiritual direction given by pastors and self-styled prophets.

Women interviewed said they were instructed to follow this ritual as a safeguard for their relationships.

The statement further noted, “During a recent community outreach and fact-finding campaign across various neighbourhoods in Accra, the ICS team uncovered a disturbing trend. A significant majority of women interviewed disclosed that they consume dog heads under the belief that it “strengthens the heart” against emotional pain and infidelity.

​“Our findings suggest that this practice is not merely a culinary choice but is being driven by targeted “spiritual” advice. Many women reported that they were specifically directed by their pastors and spiritual leaders to consume dog heads as a form of akwankyre (spiritual direction) to prevent the collapse of their marriages or to shield themselves from broken hearts.”

The group strongly condemned what it calls the growing misuse of spiritual authority, urging religious leaders to refrain from prescribing such practices, adding that, responsible counselling and meaningful support systems for individuals dealing with emotional distress would be helpful.