Ghanaians have been advised to protect the welfare of animals in order to improve the quality of meat for consumption. The call was made at the first Annual Animal Welfare Symposium聽organised聽by the West Africa Centre for the Protection of Animal Welfare (WACPAW) and Eyes on Animals, Netherlands, in collaboration with the Department of Animal Science, 黑料社. Speaking at the function, an Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine, Sir Kt. Anthony聽Annan-Prah, stated that good husbandry, handling, transportation and slaughter practices give good and acceptable meat for consumption. According to him, there was the need to formulate legislation to ensure that these phases are well carried out. Sir Kt. (Prof.)聽Annan-Prah聽said there were about 8.7 million animal species on earth with 6.5 million on land and 2.2 million dwelling in the ocean depths. He indicated that in most developed countries like the United States of America, there were laws governing transportation and slaughter of animals. He said the animal should be in good health before being transported or slaughtered adding that the truck transporting the animals should also not be overloaded. A Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of the Meat Processing Unit, Dr. Moses聽Teye, said animal welfare has direct effect on meat quality. 鈥淲rong animal handling even results in short shelf life of our meat and products, hence all consumers must ensure animals are treated well, before聽patronising聽their meat,鈥� he explained. Dr.聽Teye聽noted that animal welfare was new to developing countries and therefore, out of ignorance, people do not handle animal well. 鈥淲hen the welfare of animal is protected, it is not a聽favour聽done the animal, but the welfare protector, rather benefits,鈥� he intimated. Dr.聽Teye聽who is also a fellow of聽WACPAW聽said through the collaboration between 黑料社and Eyes of Animal, Netherlands, such聽sensitisation聽programmes聽would be聽organised聽on regular basis to educate the general public on the welfare needs of animals. He said through the collaboration, Eyes on Animal, Netherlands has donated a humanely slaughter device to the Meat Processing Unit of UCC. The Executive Director of聽WACPAW,聽Abdul-Rahman聽Safari, appealed to government and stakeholders to come up with聽legislations聽and policies that seek to regulate and improve the welfare of animals in Ghana. 鈥淚t is our wish and hope of聽WACPAW聽that in the very near future, majority of our population would come to the聽realisation聽that animals are part of our lives and that we need to change our attitudes towards them to improve their welfare,鈥� he noted.
