The Upper West regional branches of the Ghana Cattle Dealers and Butchers Associations are planning to stage a demonstration to protest against the increase in the fees on the slaughter and movement of animals within and outside the region.
The groups at a meeting with the Upper West regional branch of the Agriculture Ministry and the Wa Municipal Assembly said the 100 percent increment is unbearable.
[contextly_sidebar id=”h3E7hFBKvPrQDhYZkJr4dmvu4Cc091Os”]According to them, their members are faced with serious financial challenges due to the current economic problems of the country.
The numerous demands from personnel of the Ghana Police Service at various checkpoints anytime they transport their animals, has made the financial problem unbearable.
In an interview with Citi News, Suleiman Issah, the secretary of the Upper West Regional Association of cattle dealers said, “If you load the truck (of cattle) from here to Kumasi, if you do not hand 250 Ghana cedis to them, you cannot go.”
He revealed that the proper documents the dealers and butchers need are “the GCR, clearance certificate and the movement permit.”
“Normally, we have these papers, pay the monies but upon that if you do not have this money you cannot move,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, the Upper West Regional Director of the Veterinary services department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Rashid Gyimah expressed surprise at the stance of the associations.
“To me, it is a big surprise because other areas I’ve already worked in were more difficult than a place like Wa and I have had such instances where our fees and charges had been revised upwards and the people complied,” he said, “so the people of Upper West Region who have categorically said they will not comply, baffles me.”
Parliament under LI 2216 approved an upward adjustment of fees for the movement and slaughter of small ruminants from 1 to 2 Ghana cedis and that of cattle from 2 to 5 Ghana cedis.
Parliament gave the veterinary service department of Food and Agriculture up to April this year to implement the directive.
However, two months after the April deadline, certain dealers and butchers of the Upper West Region are yet to comply with the law.
By: Selassie A. Amissah Mensah /citifmonline.com/Ghana