Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Richard Ofori-Agyemang Boadi has declared the Assembly’s resolve to kill and feed stray cattle to the prisons and other charity institutions.
This is a tough measure to deal with the long-standing menace of stray cattle roaming major streets of the city.
Speaking at a press conference in Kumasi, he insisted, “if you are a cattle owner and you cattle stray into the domain of KMA, be rest assured, from the 1st of May those cattle will be killed and given to the Kumasi Central Prisons for feeding.”
He added, “I cannot sit here and let visitors get to this beautiful airport and when they are driving to Manhyia, all they see are faeces of cattle.”
At the Asokwa traffic light in Kumasi, about fifteen cattle attempt to cross the road unsupervised.
They obstruct traffic flow, even though the lights show green signaling vehicles to move.
For some years now, stray cattle have occasionally taken over some major roads in the Greater Kumasi Metropolis.
In the Oforikrom Municipality, the Top High Traffic Light has gradually become a safe haven for cattle who have come out to graze.
The Asokore Mampong municipality is faced with similar challenges, which often put pedestrians in harm’s way.
By the local assembly’s bye-laws, persons with authorization by the KMA can arrest cattle found at large without any supervision by a public person.
It bans the keeping of such animals outside premises of slaughter houses.
The bye-laws further indicate the animal will be released to the owner after payment of fees involved in the arrest and maintenance of the animal, and the owners’ refusal will lead to the sale of the animal at a public auction after ten days.
But the Kumasi Mayor, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi is suggesting another means of dealing with the challenge.
The previous administration of the city was unable to implement the bye-laws citing financial reasons.
The administration was unable to reach payment terms with persons to be used in the arrest of the cattle.
But the new city mayor insists all the necessary arrangements have been made to implement his new directive.
“Where to send it have already been identified, and I have told you that I have gone to have a discussion with the Regional Commander of the prison, so who make use of the cattle we have and also who to catch them, we have”, the Mayor insisted.
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