The practice of using car tyres to smoke meat has been with us for a long time.
From the old slaughter house at James Town in Accra, to some other parts of the country, butchers use car tyres to burn the furs off the skin of animals they slaughter for sale to the public.
These butchers have for a long time, ignored several warnings and the health hazard associated with the practice. They have also defied warnings by authorities and have persisted in using car tyres to smoke the meat of animals they slaughter for sale.
A visit to the James Town beach in Accra, any day, one would see scores of young men burning tyres with smoke covering the skies.
According to health experts, the process that is used to smoke the meat is hazardous.
They explain that tyres produce toxic chemicals from the breakdown of synthetic rubber compounds while burning is taking place.
Besides, the fire releases a dark, thick smoke that contains chemicals such as cyanide, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide among others.
It is for this reason that we agree with the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, that, veterinary officers of the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) should stop slaughter slabs from using car tyres to smoke meat.
The Ghanaian Times shares in view that the practice is a public health threat which requires regular inspection and strict enforcement of sanitation and environmental laws to stop it.
“We have heard about cancer. These practices are the reason it is becoming a common diseases in Ghana. We cannot accept that while we are helping your business by purchasing your meat, you endanger us by serving us meat smoked with hazardous substance. The assemblies must bring this to a halt,” he said.
We could not agree more with the minister because not only are the butchers exposing those who patronise their products to health hazards, but they are also polluting the air, water and the soil.
It is a fact that the black fumes from the burning tyres contain heavy metals and other harmful pollutants that linger in the air and can lead to acute to chronic health diseases.
It is, therefore, critical that the assemblies across the country take steps to halt the practice before we have public health challenges on our hands.
We urge the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to also join in educating the public to promote public health safety in the country.
