Takoradi butchers ready to use gas for synching animals

Members of Takoradi Butchers Association have expressed their willingness to use gas when they relocate to the new abattoir being constructed at Whindo by the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA).

Mr. Mohammed Anaba, Chairman of the Association, told the GNA on Monday that members of the Association were law-abiding citizens who would like to prepare meat under hygienic conditions in order to safeguard the health and wellbeing of meat consumers.

He said a delegation, comprising members of the Association, officials from the STMA and Veterinary Services Department visited Accra and Kumasi slaughter houses last year and saw how animals were synched with gas and would adopt the same system in the Western Region.

Mr Anaba appealed to contractors working on the project to finish the job early so that butchers could use the gas facility in their operations.

Facilities at the abattoir include two kraals, two slaughter houses, synching block, washroom, toilet facilities, a mechanized borehole as well as a cold store.

Mr. Anaba said the new abattoir had a spacious field with green grass which would enable animals to graze and a road had been constructed to ensure easy access to the place.

“We learnt the Assembly acquired a 50-acre land around this area and 20 acres had been allocated to us therefore there will be sufficient space for our animals to graze”, he said.

He expressed optimism that sooner than later, the facility would be hooked up to the national electricity grid since electric power is essential element in their daily work.

Alhaji Musah Kakale, Secretary of the Association, said butchers in the region had reduced the quantity of car tyres used in synching animals and complemented it with firewood.

He suggested sensitization programmes for members of the Association on how to keep hygienic environment and wholesome meat.

This comes on the heels of revelation by the Food and Drugs Authority that car tyres used in synching animals have health implications on meat consumers.