Scores of Muslims in the Kumasi metropolis have expressed worry over the high cost of livestock ahead of the Eid-ul-Adha sacrifice, which falls on Saturday, June 09, 2022.
They said the astronomical increases in the prices of sheep, ram, goat, and cattle as well as other items used in the festival, was making it difficult for the majority of Muslims to actively participate in the festivities.
According to some of them, the hopes of many Muslims to make sacrifices this year have been dashed as a result of the high prices of halal animals because they could not afford to buy even a sizeable animal as they used to do in previous years.
This, they blame on the current harsh economic situation in the country. These came to light when the Ghana News Agency visited some abattoirs on Friday ahead of the festival.
The GNA gathered that a small ram or sheep which used to range between GHc 500 and GHc 800 last year, was now selling between GHc 1,000 and GHc 1,500.
A normal size ram which was sold at GHc 1,000 last year is selling at more than GHc 2,500.
It was also gathered that the prices of a cow this year had gone up drastically.
Comparably, a normal cow, which used to be GHc3,000 last year, is today selling between GHc 4,500 and GHc 5,000.
A large size cow costs between GHc 7,000 and GHc 10,000 this year. Mr. Ahmed Fulani, a herder at the Kumasi abattoir, told the GNA that, this year’s Eid festival was tense due to a lack of money to buy livestock for sacrifice by many Muslims.
He said last year by this time, he had already sold over 29 cows but this year, he was yet to sell 10 of them.
Eid-ul-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice is celebrated by Muslims all over the world as a major holiday for a period of three to four days.
It is used to slaughter animals to make sacrifices to Allah and also to pray for peace and prosperity for mankind.
Muslims will offer prayers at various mosques and Islamic centers in Ghana on Saturday as part of the festivities.
Source: GNA