The Madina Magistrate court presided over by her Ladyship Suzanna Nyakotey on Thursday, September 1 imposed a fine of GH₵420.00 on a resident, Shaban Abubakar, for rearing animals in a residential area.

Shaban Abubakar who pleaded guilty to the charge was sentenced to a fine of 35 penalty units or in default three months' imprisonment. He was also ordered by the Court to demolish the cattle kraal and relocate the animals in accordance with laid down regulations of the La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal Assembly.

Environmental Health Officer, Bernice Ofori Nyarko, told the Court that the accused person reared cattle in the area under insanitary conditions.

Furthermore, she indicated to the Court that the accumulated cow dung does not only give off stench to the detriment of the health of residents in the neighborhood, but also serves as a favorable breeding ground for heel flies which are noted for causing discomfort to humans.

She said the accused person ignored several appeals from aggrieved residents despite a notice served to him to relocate the animals but failed to comply, subsequently, he was charged to appear before the Madina Magistrate Court.

According to the Municipal Environmental Health Officer, Joseph Quacoe, section (2) subsection (1) of the La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal Assembly by-law under control of stray animals states clearly that “No person shall keep pigs, cattle etc in any premises except at designated places as may be approved by the Assembly”.

He urged residents interested in rearing cattle and pigs to strictly adhere to these regulations in order to improve upon sanitation in the municipality.