Keeping dogs without licence in KMA areas is an offence

“Any person who contravenes any provision of these Bye-laws commits an offence and shall on conviction by a court be liable to a fine of 30 penalty units or a term of imprisonment not exceeding two months.”

Is allowance instantly strangers applauded

Did you know that keeping any kind of dog or bitch in the Greater Kumasi area without obtaining a licence from the KMA is punishable by a fine of 30 penalty units(GHc360) or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 months?

“Any person who contravenes any provision of these Bye-laws commits an offence and shall on conviction by a court be liable to a fine of 30 penalty units or a term of imprisonment not exceeding two months.”

You might surely be counting by now, the host of dog owners or residents who have already suffered or are about to dance to the beat?

According to a 2020 by-law of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly(KMA);

“A person shall not keep any kind of dog or bitch unless the person applies for and obtain a licence from the K.M.A. to do so;

The health department of K.M.A. shall before granting a licence satisfy itself that the dog has been duly vaccinated against rabies on the production of a signed Certificate issued by the Veterinary Officer to this effect;

The officer from the health department after inspecting and certifying  the authenticity  of the badge shall provide to the keeper by the Licensing Officer which badge shall be kept on the dog at all times whilst the licence remains in force;

A licence issued under these Bye-laws shall expire on the 31st December of the year in which it is issued;

The owner shall renew the licence by subjecting the animal to another vaccination and follow the same process to renew the licence which shall also expire on the 31st day of the year in which it was issued.”

Are there stray dogs in the Greater Kumasi area at all?

Per the by-law, any stray dog shall be seized by a police officer, Health officer, Task Force of KMA, or any person authorized by the Assembly and bring it before a magistrate who may give direction as to whether it should be returned to its owner or a suitable person.

“(I) A dog in respect of which a licence is granted shall be confined in a house by the owner and shall not be allowed to be at large except with the owner or someone and on leash.

(2) It shall be lawful for any Police Officer, Health Officer, Task Force of K.M.A. or any person authorized by the K.M.A. to seize any stray dog found at large and bring it before a Magistrate who may direct that the dog be returned to its owner or assigned to a suitable person or make such order as he may think fit.”

I guess the above eliminates stray dogs from the Greater Kumasi area right?

Vaccination

” A person who keeps a dog shall have it inoculated once every year against rabies at the Department of Animal Health and obtain a Certificate to that in respect of the dog.”

Now, the questions begging for answers are; 

How far has the KMA gone with implementing this provision in its by-law? Have there been any prosecutions? How many people have been made to face the law so far and what are the challenges of the KMA in doing so?