An International Animal Rights Activist, Miss Natasha Choolun, has petitioned the Government of Ghana to ban the trade in cat and dog meat for human consumption.

"Dogs and cats are not food, but loyal companion animals that should be treated with kindness and respect, not brutalised and eaten," she said in a petition.

The petition noted that the trade in dogs and cats is widespread across African countries, making them unattractive to tourists who are aware of the "cruel" industries and unwilling to invest in those countries.

It said besides the fact that it is cruel to kill and eat those animals, they are also kept under unhygienic conditions, promoting the spread of fatal diseases.

The petition said, "the World Health Organisation has confirmed that these global live animal markets must be closed as they are at the root of COVID-19 and are also a breeding ground for the spread of other fatal diseases.

"The brutal dog and cat meat trade is putting human health at risk from consumption of dogs and cats in form of Cholera, Rabies and other deadly diseases and now COVID 19.

"We urge you to ban the demonic dog and animal sacrifices and the barbaric dog and cat meat trade in Africa. Like many harmful and outdated practices in history, these barbaric animal sacrifices must also be abolished."

It said Government must also ban wildlife trade, dog racing and dog fighting and "implement enforceable laws to protect these animals from harm".