In the Eastern Region town of Anum, you may never hear the barking of a live dog. If you ever do, hear it when in Anum, it may either be from your television or an audio recording. 

Moving around the town, you will find cats, goats, and other animals but for dogs, no way!

The reason is simple, keeping dogs for whatever reason will be a breach of custom because of a century-long-held belief that the gods of the land hate the presence of other dogs.

The gods, believe Anum already has spiritual dogs guarding the town hence a physical one is not needed.

Residents have a desire to keep dogs for hunting and security at home. However, the fear of divine punishment, as well as the disapproval of the town's revered elders, has compelled them to conform to the customs.

“As for me, I would’ve preferred to keep a dog because they can be used for our security at home and hunting but our elders are insisting we go by the instructions of the gods and we can’t do anything about it,” Kofi, a resident said.

Agya Yaw, another resident holds a firm belief that the people of Anum have no choice but to honor the gods by being obedient.

He sees the prohibition on dogs as an expression of gratitude for the gods' unwavering protection over the town throughout history.

“The deity led this town from its inception and that is what it dislikes .so we have no option than to go by his instructions,” he noted.

The views of Kwabena who also lives in Anum are not different from Agya Yaw and Kofi because, he sees the prohibition on dogs, not as a preservation of their cherished history and honoring the legacies of their ancestors.

“We came to meet the history from our forefathers and are obeying as directed. We cannot do anything about it than abide by it,” Kwabena emphasized.

The prohibition on dogs in Anum has become deeply part of the lives of the town's inhabitants, shaping their way of life and their understanding of the divine order.

The consequences of disregarding this longstanding tradition are not to be taken lightly, as it is believed to incur the wrath of the gods. But what lay at the heart of this intriguing custom?

Kofi Osae, the revered Asafoakye of the Ninfa division in the Anum traditional area, explained that the reason is that the deity of the town guards it with his own dogs.

“The reason we don’t keep dogs in this town is because our deity guards the people with his own dogs. He dislikes the barking of other dogs who may see him patrolling the town at night and prefers to operate in silence without attracting any attention. That is why community members have been instructed not to keep dogs in this town,” he explained.

But what fate awaits those who unknowingly send dogs into the Anum town? The Asafoakye, Kofi Osae, explained that such individuals would be required to undergo a ceremonial purification process, intended to appease the gods and re-establish harmony within the community.

In the worst situation, one could be attacked by community members for disrespecting their customs.

“The people of Anum settled on this land in the eighteenth century. And that has been the norm of not keeping dogs. Everyone is expected to go by this directive in other not to incur the wrath of the gods. If you are a stranger passing through the town with your dogs, we will allow you to go.  But to stay in this town with your dogs, the village folk will kill them. Dogs from nearby villages are not even allowed here,” he added.

You may have a legal right to keep a dog but in Anum you may have to battle the people and culture to have one. So, if you plan on driving through Anum with a dog in your vehicle, remember that the people who revere this custom will not welcome you.

Would you insist on your right and end up in the police station or courtroom to assert your right or would simply stay away from Anum with your dog?