Kumasi: The Coalition for Cruelty-Free Africa (CFCFA) has announced an intensified campaign and lobbying effort aimed at ending animal cruelty, specifically targeting the dog and cat meat trade, animal sacrifices, and similar practices.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Coalition has increased its awareness efforts, prominently placing billboards across Africa and Southeast Asia, with the most recent installations in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana. The campaign seeks to address the World Health Organisation's (WHO) warnings regarding the severe health risks associated with the dog and cat meat trade, including diseases like trichinellosis, cholera, and rabies, which threaten both animals and humans.
In collaboration with major international animal protection organizations, the Coalition condemns the trade of dog and cat meat and the practice of animal sacrifices, which occur daily in several African countries, particularly Ghana and Uganda. The Coalition has identified other nations, such as Togo, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Zambia, Tanzania, and the Congo, as active participants in these practices.
The Coalition emphasizes that the issue extends beyond Africa, with similar practices occurring in China, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, and other parts of Southeast Asia. Despite growing global opposition, these practices continue unabated, with particular surges during summer events in places like Yulin, China; Evala, Togo; Ogun, Nigeria; and Boknal, Korea.
The Coalition highlights the role of animal traffickers and meat traders, who often capture animals from communities, including family pets, strays, and wildlife, subjecting them to extreme cruelty. China is noted as the largest participant in the dog and cat meat trade, contributing to the spread of diseases and fatalities.
Despite a ban on the dog and cat meat trade in Korea, the Boknal festival persists, leading to the slaughter of countless dogs. Nigeria is identified as the third-largest consumer of dog meat globally, with mass slaughters continuing at events in Ogun despite public opposition.
The Coalition further criticizes Togo for exploiting tourists through the Evala festival, where animals are killed under the guise of cultural practices. The Coalition's campaign continues to raise awareness and push for legislative changes to end these practices globally.
