Accra, Nov. 13, GNA – The Coalition For Cruelty Free Africa (CFCFA) has stepped up its campaign urging African governments to outlaw the dog and cat meat trade and animal sacrifices.
The Coalition, which has unveiled a billboard in central Accra to drum home its message, said more billboards were being rolled out across all regions of Ghana, aimed at raising public awareness on animal cruelty, public health risks and the need for humane care for dogs, cats and all animals.
CFCFA is calling on President John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana and Head of the African Union, and Heads of all African nations, to take urgent action to outlaw what it described as the barbaric dog and cat meat trade and outdated animal sacrifices, it said in a statement to the Ghana News Agency.
According to the Coalition, the practices continue in Ghana and other African countries, including Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Zambia, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
CFCFA cited warnings by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the dangers of eating dog and cat meat, saying it poses serious risks from diseases such as rabies, trichinosis, cholera and other fatal diseases.
“These warnings continue to be ignored, and dogs, cats and people continue to die,” the Coalition said.
It described the dog and cat meat trade as one of the most horrific animal cruelty trades, alleging that many dogs and cats were stolen from their homes and families, while stray dogs and cats were taken from the streets and sold into live animal markets.
The Coalition further alleged that many dogs and cats were trucked across borders from Ghana into neighbouring countries such as Nigeria and Togo, and also from Zambia into the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Terrified dogs, cats and other animals are crammed into small spaces for long journeys with no food or water, tortured and slaughtered,” CFCFA said.
It said traders and traffickers involved in the trade were not only killing animals but spreading diseases from one region in Ghana to another and across Africa, and that many of the abusers were also involved in other criminal activities across Ghana and Africa.
CFCFA informed it was campaigning to urgently change the situation across Ghana and all African nations, and to protect Ghana’s dogs, cats and animals from criminal animal abusers.
“Dogs and cats are our companions, our family, our protectors and our friends. They deserve our protection, they feel fear and pain exactly as we do,” said CFCFA.
“Our new educational billboards are going up across all regions in Ghana and our most recent billboard is in Accra. The message is to every leader in Ghana and across all African nations: Outlaw the dog and cat meat trade, End animal sacrifices, Stop animal traffickers.”
The Campaigners said investing in the health and care of animals means healthy people and communities.
“Saving animals is saving public health, they go hand in hand together. Investing in animal care, protection and education and legislation to unite, create healthier communities and spread kindness and compassion so people can look after their own animals and protect them from animal abusers and animal traffickers who destroy animal lives and communities.”
“There is no place for animal cruelty in the 21st century,” the Coalition said.
CFCFA urged all stakeholders to take a stand against animal cruelty and uphold global standards of health, compassion, humanity and ethical responsibility.
Together, we must take a stand against animal cruelty and uphold global standards of health, compassion, humanity and ethical standards.”
GNA
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong