Sunyani Municipal branch of the Ghana Cooperative Butchers Association, on Wednesday decried the dilapidated and unhygienic state of the abattoir at Nana Bosoma Central Market in Sunyani. They complained that the current state of the abattoir attracts flies and if nothing was done immediately, the health implications to consumers and people in the area would be serious.

Speaking at a seminar for the members of the Association with support from the Business Sector Advocacy Fund (BUSAC) in Sunyani, Alhaji Imoro Abdulai, and the Association Chairman said the neglect of the abattoir by the Municipal Assembly had also affected sales.

The seminar was on the theme: “A hygienic abattoir equals a healthy public”. Alhaji Abdulai stressed that, in spite of the existence of Act 642 (Local Government Act 1993) section 10, which enjoined District Assemblies to provide hygienic and environmentally conducive market structures for all traders.

“The neglect of this provision by almost all the districts in the Brong-Ahafo Region and its effect on our businesses and the health of the people in the region must be of concern to all”, he added.
Alhaji Abdulai appealed to the Municipal Assembly to provide the needed operational infrastructure and logistics not only to enhance their businesses, but more importantly to ensure the good health of the people.

Mr S.K. Opoku, Municipal Environmental Officer, said the Assembly was constructing a new slaughter house at Kotokrom, near Sunyani and urged the Association to exercise restraint.
He stressed the need for members to send animals they intend to slaughter to the veterinary service for medical checks to prevent the outbreak of diseases. Mr Opoku said the Association slaughtered 1,800 animals for public consumption in the first quarter of this year as compared to 3,000 animals in the previous year for the same period. He advised the butchers to ensure personal hygiene in the slaughtering and handling of the meat.

Dr Agyemang Kontoh, Brong-Ahafo Regional Veterinary Officer, called on the government to strengthen the capacity of environmental and veterinary officers to enable them to perform to expectation in monitoring and supervising the activities of the butchers.

He said the activities of the butchers were very crucial in enhancing the health status of the people and appealed to the Assembly to help address the issue. Dr Kontoh, however, noted that the Assembly alone could not solve the problems facing the Association and urged members to pay their dues regularly to make them financially sound.