Anthrax Outbreak: Shortage of livestock looms ahead of Eid al-Adha
Muslims in the Greater Accra Region may not be able to celebrate and feast like in previous years during the celebration of Eid al-Adha if a ban on the movement of ruminants extends further due to an anthrax outbreak.
Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is an important Muslim holiday that celebrates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. As part of the celebration, Muslims traditionally sacrifice an animal, usually a sheep, goat, or cow, and share the meat with family, friends, and those in need.
However, with an anthrax outbreak in the Upper East Region, the cattle supply for the celebration is likely to be limited, leading to higher prices and potentially leaving some families unable to participate in the tradition.
Many people in southern Ghana rely on livestock from the northern sections, but a ban, barely three weeks before the Islamic festival, could derail celebrations.
The highly contagious bacterial disease has been reported in Bansi in Binduri District and Sapeliga in the Bawku West District, causing concern among livestock farmers and traders.
The Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) have been tasked to ensure that the slaughter, sale and consumption of cattle, sheep, goats and dogs are banned for one month, effective Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
Additionally, the police are to arrest any person or group of persons who flout the directive.
Furthermore, veterinary officers have been directed to immediately commence anthrax vaccination of the categories of ruminants immediately.
At Tulaku near Ashaiman, one of the biggest centres for ruminants serving people in Tema, Accra, Eastern and Volta regions, Musa Abdulai Mohammed, a cattle dealer, is concerned that the development could have a significant impact in the coming days.
“The supply we had on Sunday is all running out and finishing because, on a day in Tulaku alone, we can slaughter 400 to 500 cattle. In a day, a butcher can slaughter 10 to 15 cattle, and I am not talking about the ones they send to Madina or Accra. If the animals don’t come in, it will affect the Sallah celebrations, especially rams and cattle”.
As of Friday, June 2, 2023, thirteen cattle and twenty-three sheep and goats were confirmed dead.
Anthrax is a severe disease that affects both humans and animals.
It is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis and is most commonly found in grazing animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats. The disease is transmitted through contact with infected animals or their products, such as meat or hides.