Demolition of "Mayanka" postponed to January 30

Kumasi (Ashanti), 15 Jan. '99 - The demolition of the old slaughter house at Mayanka in Kumasi scheduled for Saturday, January 16, has been postponed to January 30 This was the outcome of an emergency meeting held in Kumasi yesterday between the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council (ARC), the Kumasi Metropolitan Authority (KMA) and the two butchers' groups, the Ghana Co-operative Butchers, and the Progressive Butchers Associations. Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti regional minister, said the meeting agreed to a request by the butchers and explained that the demolition exercise has been reviewed due to the celebration of the Eid-Ud-Fitr festival of Moslems who form the majority of the butchers. He asked the two butchers' groups to appoint a representative each to work together with representatives from the Kumasi Abattoir Company and the KMA to register butchers who will be allocated spaces to operate meat shops at the Central Market. Alhaji Tanko, a spokesman for the butchers, had earlier pleaded with the RCC and the KMA for more time to operate at Mayanka. He assured the RCC that all the butchers will abide by the new date for the demolition exercise. Mr Yankah gave orders for the demolition of the slaughter house when he toured the site and saw the unhygienic conditions under which meat is sold to the public.