Damongo Traditional Area Introduces New Bylaws to Regulate Butchers

The Paramount Chief of the Damongo Traditional Area, Damongowura Seidu Kelly Boresa I, in collaboration with the West Gonja Municipal Assembly, has introduced new bylaws aimed at regulating the activities of butchers within the municipality.

The bylaws, which were unveiled on October 3, 2025, are designed to promote hygiene, safety, and respect for local customs and the environment. The bylaws include:

1. Registration of Butchers: All butchers and kebab vendors must register their identity and business location with the Chief Butcher under the supervision of the Damongo Youth Chief.
2. Slaughterhouse Regulations: All animals must be slaughtered at the abattoir (slaughterhouse) under the supervision of a joint inspectorate team from the Damongowura’s Palace and the Veterinary Office.
3. Inspection and Display: Heads, feet, and skins of slaughtered animals must be displayed on the workbench until close of day or exhibited until 12:00 noon the following day.
4. Kebab Vendors: Kebab vendors must comply with the display regulations and notify the joint committee/team when purchasing portions of slaughtered animals from registered butchers.
5. Leftover Meat: Leftover meat/unsold meat must be inspected by a veterinary officer and the youth chief before sales continue on the next day.
6. Sales Restrictions: No one is allowed to sell meat at the house level, obscured or changed location, except when registered with the authorities.
7. Cattle Owners and Fulani Herdsmen: Cattle owners and Fulani herdsmen are banned from traveling overnight to the Buipe market with their livestock for sale.
8. Night Slaughtering: No animal should be slaughtered at night, except in urgent cases, and must be done under the supervision of the Damongowura’s Palace or Youth Chief.
9. Dispute Resolution: All concerns regarding butchers and kebab vendors should be channeled to the Chief Butcher and the Youth Chief for resolution.
10. Scaling and Weights: All meat dealers are required to introduce scaling in gram measurements to avoid misunderstandings.
11. Fulani and Zambarama Retail Ban: Fulani and Zambarama people are not allowed to engage in direct retailing business on animal market days in Damongo.

The Paramount Chief has urged all stakeholders to comply with the bylaws, which aim to safeguard public health and contribute to the orderly growth of the municipality. Failure to comply may result in confiscation of livestock or meat for further investigation and sanctions.

Signatories include;

1. Damongowura Seidu Kelly Boresa I (Paramount Chief, Damongo Traditional Area)
2. Chief Luckman Salifu Soja (Damongowura’s Youth Chief)
3. Alhaji Yussif Adam (Chief Butcher, Damongo)
4. Mr. Bawa Masawud Ali (Butchers’ Youth Representative, Damongo) and cpoied to;
6. The Jakpa Palace, Damongo
7. All Paramount Chiefs in Gonja Kingdom
8. Hon. Regional Minister, Savannah Region
9. Regional Police Commander, Savannah Region
10. Regional Crime Officer, Savannah Region
11. Municipal Chief Executive, West Gonja Municipal Assembly
12. Municipal Crime Officer, West Gonja, Damongo
13. Municipal Police Commander, West Gonja, Damongo
14. Municipal Veterinary Officer, Damongo
15. Chief Butcher, Canteen
16. Minority Tribal Chiefs, Damongo
17. The Youth Chief, Damongo
18. All Animal Owners, Damongo
19. All Youth Groups, Damongo
20. All Media Houses, Damongo