The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Ocloo, has justified the controversial sale of cattle in the heart of Accra’s Kanda enclave, insisting the activity was officially sanctioned as part of this year’s Eid-ul-Adha celebrations.
Her defence comes amid growing public outrage over the transformation of parts of Kanda into a temporary livestock market, with residents and commuters complaining about stench, sanitation concerns, and animals straying onto major roads.
Addressing Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and the media yesterday, Madam Ocloo disclosed that the Regional Coordinating Council and the Assembly approved the sale after negotiations with leaders of the cattle traders.
According to her, the traders pleaded for a three-day grace period because the Sallah festivities span three days.
“We gave them up to Friday, and tomorrow is Friday, so hopefully from tomorrow up to Saturday, we can assure the public that the entire place would be cleared because we met the opinion leaders, who begged us,” she stated.
The Minister admitted that the development had created public concern but appealed for tolerance, describing the arrangement as temporary.
“This is the first time this is happening, and we have directed the MCE that next time they should find a proper place for them so that they can display their livestock,” she said.
The emergence of makeshift cattle markets along parts of Accra during Eid-ul-Adha has increasingly become a source of controversy, with critics questioning why residential and commercial areas are being turned into livestock holding grounds.
Others have raised fears over possible public health implications, warning that unchecked animal movement and poor sanitation conditions could expose residents to zoonotic diseases.
Madam Ocloo, however, maintained that the situation was under control, stating that the traders had now fenced the area to prevent the animals from wandering onto the streets.
“Having engaged them, they have fenced off the entire place and assured us that by Friday-Saturday the place would be cleared. We are monitoring the situation,” she stressed.
She further assured the public that she and her team would personally inspect the area to ensure that the traders honour their promise to clean up the enclave after the festivities.
“I am waiting for tomorrow, where myself and the team will visit the place and verify that indeed they have honoured what they said,” she added.
The Minister reiterated that the temporary cattle market would be dismantled after the three-day Sallah celebration, promising that Kanda would return to normal by Saturday.
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