Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Abas Apaak Defends Dog and Cat Meat Consumption, Urges Pride in Cultural Heritage
Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has strongly dismissed concerns raised by the Institute of Community Sustainability regarding the consumption of dog and cat meat in Ghana.
In a post on X , Dr. Apaak—who also identifies as the Global President of the Dog Meat Eaters Association (DOGMEA)—urged members of the association and the public to disregard the criticism and treat it “with the contempt it deserves.”
Addressing the health concerns highlighted by the Institute, Dr. Apaak questioned their validity:
“What do they mean by health concerns? Have we, the dog and cat meat consumers, reported health issues to them? And don’t people who don’t eat dog and cat meat also have health issues?”
On ethical objections, he rejected external standards of morality:
“Ethical concerns? Whose ethics and by whose standards? We, the consumers of dog and cat meat, are guided by the ethics passed down by our ancestors. Our forefathers taught us the moral principles governing our behaviour, which includes our consumption of dog and cat meat.”
Dr. Apaak emphasised the deep cultural and traditional roots of the practice:
“We consume dog and cat meat because it is part of our culture, heritage, and tradition. It is part of our identity. Food, dog and cat meat included, is a primary expression of cultural identity, heritage, and social bonding.”
He concluded by calling on consumers to embrace the practice boldly and without apology:
“I urge members to boldly and fearlessly consume these special delicacies. We are proud of our heritage, we are proud of our culture. It is our birthright to consume dog and cat meat.”
The Deputy Minister’s remarks have sparked renewed debate on social media and in public discourse, with opinions sharply divided between those who view the consumption as a legitimate cultural right and those who raise animal welfare, zoonotic health risks, and modern ethical considerations.
The Institute of Community Sustainability had earlier called for greater awareness of potential health and ethical implications, though Dr. Apaak’s response has framed the issue primarily as one of cultural preservation and ancestral tradition.
No official position has been issued by the Ministry of Education on the Deputy Minister’s personal statements, which were made in his capacity as leader of DOGMEA rather than in an official ministerial role. The controversy continues to generate widespread discussion across Ghana.
