By Charles Tawiah
Nkawie (Ash), Oct. 08, GNA – The Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region has given butchers in the municipality a one-month ultimatum to relocate to a newly commissioned abattoir at Nkawie.
Mr Wisdom Osei Boamah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), said the Assembly would take legal action against any butcher found slaughtering animals for commercial purposes outside the municipal abattoir after the deadline.
Speaking at the inauguration of an abattoir at Nkawie, he emphasised that “from November 01, 2026, anyone found slaughtering animals for sale outside the Municipal abattoir will be fined in accordance with the law to safeguard public health and safe meat for consumption.”
Mr Boamah said the directive was intended to safeguard public health and ensure that meat offered for public consumption was processed under hygienic conditions.
He, therefore, charged the Environmental Health Department and Assembly members to ensure that animals intended for commercial meat production were slaughtered at the facility.
Mr Boamah said following a series of requests by Assembly members, the construction of the abattoir was captured and approved in the 2025 budget.
He said the project, funded through the Assembly’s share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), was subsequently awarded and completed within six months.
The MCE said the facility had adequate space and sections to accommodate the butchers without congestion or hindrance to their operations.
He commended the chiefs, contractors, and other stakeholders for their cooperation and support towards the timely completion of the project.
Mr Prosper Argum, the Municipal Environmental Health Analyst, said the Assembly’s bye-laws and other legal instruments were intended to promote proper sanitation and food safety.
He urged the butchers to comply with the rules and regulations governing their operations to help protect public health.
Mr Sulemana Mohammed, the Municipal Chief Butcher, who received the keys to the facility, commended the Assembly and the Government for the project and pledged the cooperation of the butchers in complying with the directives.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Bertha Badu-Agyei/Lydia Kukua Asamoah