Court fines herdsman for defying orders of AMA

Accra, Oct. 30, GNA - The Adjabeng Magistrate Court on Wednesday imposed a fine of GH¢60.00 on a cattle owner, Abubakari Osumanu for defying the orders of the Accra Metro Public Health Directorate to relocate his animals.

Osumanu is liable for 60 days imprisonment in default.

The court, presided over by Mrs Patricia Quansah, also ordered that by November 18, the accused had not relocate the animals they should be confiscated and sold to the public and the proceed given to the Osu Children Home in Accra.

Mr Samuel Norgbey, of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Public Health Department, told the court that the accused person was seen at the Kaokudi Park, near Kanda Highways, a ceremonial road, with 21 cows roaming about and creating nuisance to the public and vehicles plying the road.

He said the accused was served with a notice to relocate the animals but he defied the orders of AMA and was therefore arrested and charged with the offence.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, in Accra, Dr Simpson Anim Boateng, AMA Public Health Director at Adjabeng, said it was against the bye-laws of AMA to keep cattle in the Metropolis.

He said it was a sheer act of indiscipline by herdsmen who were found with animals despite the public education given to them.

Dr Boateng said vigorous routine inspections, arrests and prosecution of offending herdsmen would be pursued to curb the menace.

GNA