#FixTheCountry Movement lead convener, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, is alleging that a minister of state gave Freedom Jacob Caesar aka Cheddar the licence to import his tigers.

He said government was aware of Cheddar's decision to import the big cats into the country.

According to him, Jacob Caesar brought the carnivorous animals through the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

Mr Barker-Vormawor is thus asking the government not to act surprised in all of this. He insisted that will be hypocritical of the government.

“A rich man imported tigers. Ghanaian officials (including the minister) gave him a license to import them.

“He did not hide them in his boxers or susu box to come into Ghana. He brought them through Kotoka Int Airport. The Government was aware.“

He made the allegation in a Facebook post on Saturday, May 21.

Background

On Thursday, there were reports of some residents expressing concerns over the presence of the animals in the neighbourhood.

According to them, the presence of the animals makes them feel unsafe.

They also insisted attempts to get the owner or the management of the facility to evacuate the tigers proved futile.

Although these claims have been refuted by the owner, the Police subsequently charged the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission to remove the animals to an appropriate facility on Friday, May 20.

However, the Wildlife Division, upon visiting the estate and conducting preliminary investigations, the Division concluded that the two tigers are well protected. 

The Director of Operations at the Wildlife Division, Luri Kanton, in a media interview, those big cats pose no threat to the residents.

“We have made the visit to look at the tigers to look at their conditions, the cage they are put in, and then we want to assure the public that the tigers are well secured in this cage and our investigation also reveals that so far, their welfare too is being catered for.”

Mr. Kanton explained that the animals will be relocated after a new structure has been constructed for them. 

“The tigers are safe, healthy and well protected and relocation will be done after investigations and a new structure would’ve to be constructed at a new location before the relocation of the animals could be done”.