Stray cattle to be turned into prison meals – Kumasi Mayor declares
The new directive, which takes effect from 1 May forms part of the city’s renewed efforts to clamp down on the persistent menace of wandering livestock
The Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, is warning livestock owners: any stray cattle found roaming the streets of Ghana’s second-largest city will be culled and used as food for inmates at the Kumasi Central Prison.
The new directive, which takes effect from 1 May forms part of the city’s renewed efforts to clamp down on the persistent menace of wandering livestock.
The Mayor says the situation has spiralled out of control, posing serious risks to public safety, sanitation, and urban order.
“There is another thing I will want you to help me look at,” Mr Boadi told journalists.
“If you have cattle and they stray in the vicinity of KMA, be assured that from May 1, they will be killed and given to Kumasi Central Prison for food—especially along the route from the airport through to Manhyia Palace.”
“I cannot sit, for visitors to Kumasi [to] see faecal matter from cattle all over our main roads,” he added.
The 14-day ultimatum has drawn mixed reactions from the public. City authorities argue that previous attempts—ranging from fines to impoundments—have failed to deter herders from allowing animals to roam freely.
Statistics from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) show that over 10,000 road crashes were recorded across Ghana in 2024, resulting in nearly 2,000 deaths. In Kumasi alone, the KMA reported over 120 vehicle collisions involving stray animals.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture also estimates that farmers lose more than $2 million annually due to crop destruction by unconfined livestock.
Health experts say the roaming animals also pose serious sanitation risks, often blocking drainage systems and littering urban centres with waste.
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