Any stray cattle found in the capital of the Ashanti Region will end up on the plate of prisoners, Kumasi Mayor Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi has declared.

Mr Boadi has taken this tough stance of a zero-tolerance for wandering animals, as Ghana’s second-largest city seems to have been overtaken by livestock expected to be in confinement.

The drastic measure aims to curb the growing menace of roaming animals disrupting traffic, damaging crops, and endangering lives.

“There is another thing I will want you to help me look at. If you have cattle and if they stray in the vicinity of KMA, be assured that from May 1, they will be killed and given to Kumasi Central Prison for food. Especially the route from the airport through to Manhyia Palace,” he warned.

“I cannot sit, for visitors come to Kumasi [and] from the airport to Manhyia, and all they see is faecal matter from cattle.”

The 14-day ultimatum by city authorities, while controversial, highlights the desperation to solve a problem that has persisted despite repeated fines and impoundments.

2024 statistics released by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) revealed over 10,000 crashes, accounting for nearly 2000 deaths nationwide.

In the Ashanti Region, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) reported over 120 collisions in Kumasi last year, highlighting the high public safety risk of stray animals.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) estimates that farmers lose $2 million annually to crop destruction by unattended livestock.

The health hazards posed by these unrestrained animals are numerous, including blocking drains and spreading waste, worsening sanitation in urban areas.