Accra, June 15, GNA - The Metropolitan Public Health Department (MPHD) of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) had realised 23 million cedis as fines imposed on owners of stray animals in the metropolis. This followed persistent public complaints from residents on the destruction and nuisance caused by stray animals on ceremonial streets, residential areas, the Kotoka International Airport, the Kofi Annan Training Centre and the Regional Maritime Academy at Nungua. The acting Director of the Department, Mr James Charway Aryeetey, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Thursday said a total of 294 animals were arrested in an exercise by a special task force and the police to clamp down on stray animals.

He said some of the animals whose owners failed to claim ownership were auctioned but those who claimed ownership were fined and the animals were realised to them.

Mr Aryeetey noted that many people rearing animals in the metropolis did not comply with the bylaws on environmental health, which was the basis of poor waste management in Accra. He said owners of these animals should ensure that they are kept neatly in a pen to abate nuisance within the community. He said the Department would soon embark on a house-to-house inspection and persons who would be found rearing cattle and pig and other domestic animals without permit would face prosecution. Mr Divine Dornu Sappor, leader of the task force, said the measures had become necessary to curb the practice of leaving animals astray in many parts of the city.

He said these animals defecate indiscriminately at public places, adding that his office had put up stringent measures to deal with people who were guilty of such practices to make them more responsive to environmental issues.