A serious health crisis looms in Accra as operators of an illegal slab at Avenor, a suburb of Accra, continue to supply meat to markets in the capital for sale to consumers. Investigations by the Daily Graphic has revealed the slaughter slab, which had been a major source of unhygienic meat for residents of the city for several years now, also continues to be a severe environmental threat to the lives of residents of Avenor and its surrounding areas. The health situation of people living near the slaughter slab is in danger and efforts by the residents to compel the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to demolish the structure seems not to have generated the needed action. The Okaikoi Sub-Metro has been unable to take any meaningful step towards closing down the facility. Investigations conducted around the slaughter slab and surrounding areas reveal that lorry tyres are used by the butchers to singe the carcass before they are prepared for the markets for sale. Besides, the environment where the animals are kept and fed upon arrival from the north while awaiting slaughtering is not only filthy, but also deplorable and disgusting. The lack of a veterinary post to check the health of the animals to determine whether they are in good condition and suitable for human consumption, even makes matters worse. The bad state of the environment and the unhygienic way of preparing the animals for the markets raises serious concerns, as the activities of the butchers could have a catastrophic consequence on the health of residents if no action is taken to address the situation. A letter dated March 15, 2010 sent to the AMA Chief Executive, Mr Alfred Vanderpuije, by a resident of Avenor intercepted by the Daily Graphic, indicated that the activities of the butchers in the area were very worrying as they constantly threatened the lives of people living or working in the area. "Their operations could give rise to serious health problems such as respiratory diseases and skin diseases and eye problems if the problem is not checked," it said. "Several complaints to the Okaikoi Sub-Metro to remedy the situation proved futile. The operators of this slaughter slab alleged that they pay daily tax to AMA officials and that nobody can stop them," the letter added. Investigations conducted at the AMA revealed that an AMA Director, Dr S. A. Boateng, acting on instructions of the chief executive on May 25, 2010, summoned the District Environmental Health Officer of the Okaikoi South Sub-Metro to his office for serious deliberations on the issue. Meanwhile, Dr Boateng instructed that a letter should be sent to the Regional Police Commander to request for 10 police officers to enforce the demolishing of the slab on June 2, 2010, but his instruction is yet to be complied with. Action is yet to be taken by the AMA to close the slaughter slab as butchers are seen every morning busily preparing their animals for sale at various locations in the city. Currently, the butchers are in no hurry to vacate the slab and nothing also shows that they have any immediate plans to relocate to a new location to do their business. Source: Daily Graphic