Foul meat on sale in Tamale markets

Investigations by The Chronicle have revealed that the majority of residents in the Tamale Metropolis are consuming “uncertified meats” from unapproved sources, as illegal slaughtering and selling of cow, goat and sheep products continue to flood the city'smarkets.

It is estimated that about 70 to 85 percent of the meat being sold in the markets, and within the various communities of the Metropolis, do not undergo any inspection from the officials of the Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).

The paper discovered that the demand for cow and goat meat was very high in Tamale, and for that matter, the Northern Region, due to its availability and affordability.

But the major concern is that people seriously consume the meat without taking cognizance of where and how the meat is prepared, before being brought to the market.

It is also believed that most of the livestock farmers in the area, in trying to make more profits out of their investment, sometimes slaughter their animals in the bush, and convey them to the market centres without any Veterinary advice or inspection to ascertain whether or not the animals are sick or the meat safe for human consumption.

Another unpleasant issue is that some of these illegal butchers carry the slaughtered animals in rickety taxis, motorbikes, on human heads, and at times, engage truck pushers to send them to the market, which also compromises the wholesomeness of the meat.

In an interview with The Chronicle, some of the licensed butchers at the Tamale Abattoir, complained about the activities of the illegal butchers, which are denting the image of all butchers in the Metropolis.

One of the butchers, who calls himself “John Cena,” said they had complained on numerous ocassions to the officials of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) to take punitive action against the faceless butchers who sell uncertified meat in large quantities and at affordable prices to the restaurants and chop bar operators within the Metropolis, but they are yet to respond.

The Tamale Metro Veterinary Officer, Dr. Evans Nsoh, also confirmed that residents of Tamale were indeed consuming unauthorised meat from the markets.

According to him, by his records, those who bring meat to the market for sale, were far exceeding those whose meat go under Veterinary inspections, even though only 50 Ghana Pesewas and 30 Ghana Pesewas are charged for inspection of cattle and goats respectively.

He therefore cautioned the public to be careful about the kind of meat they buy for their households.

Dr. Nsoh disclosed that any disease that could affect or kill a Livestock Animal could also kill human being and thus called for action now.

All efforts to speak to the Mayor of Tamale, Alhaji Abdullai Haruna Friday, proved unsuccessful, but his Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Musah Issifu, was available to comment on the issue.

According to him, the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly was aware of the dire situation, and would soon descend on the illegal butchers before the situation gets out of hand.

He indicated that Tamale had only one approved abattoir, where all butchers were supposed to slaughter their animals with veterinary inspections before public consumption.

Mr. Musah was also extremely unhappy about the use of dilapidated taxis and motorbikes to convey the meat to the market centres, which was unhealthy.