Muslims around the world are celebrating the Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
As an annual event, the festival commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail in obedience to God’s command.
The feast marks the end of Hajj, the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca which originated during the era of prophet Ibrahim.
Eid-Ul Adha is commemorated in the month of Dhul Hijah which marks the last month on the Islamic calendar.
[contextly_sidebar id=”nBqDpGUK5Zzd7bi7axbiVnneMPYcrSuA”]On the day of Eid-Ul Adha, wealthy Muslims after performing the two compulsory congregational prayer in the open slaughter animals such as goat, ram, cow and camels.
As required by the doctrines of Islam, the meat is shared amongst family members, friends, neighbors and the destitute in society.
Prices of the aforementioned animals particularly sheep have sky rocketed in Tamale Township.
At the forecourt of the popular Aboabo Butchers House, quite a lot of people got astonished by the new prices.
Depending on the size of the ram, the new prices were GHC600.00, GHC800.00, GHC1, 200.00 and GHC1, 300 respectively.
One of the dealers attributed the increment to the importation of the animals from neighboring Burkina Faso where he spent the CFA Franc.
He told Citi News sales were down as compared to the previous years.
Due to the price differentials, some of the buyers who budgeted for two rams finally bought one.
Equally, the prices of cow head, legs and tails have upwardly been adjusted.
Customers who shifted their attention to the cow head, legs and tails cried foul of the situation and one of the sellers, Alhaji Ibrahim said business was bad.
Alhaji Alhassan Saani who bought a bull last year for GHC1, 200.00 was asked to cough GHC3, 800.00 for the same size of a bull.
Disappointingly, majority of Muslims might not be able to slaughter any animal because of the prevailing circumstance but Allah knows best.
By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana