Page 119 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 12(1) (2024)

(PRAAD, Kumase, ARG 1/14/16, Tsetse Traps, by the Governor in Council under Section 18
1935). of the Infectious diseases Ordinance, Gazetted
in 1935). The objectives of the ordinance could
Enactment of Laws and Ordinances be argued as threefold: first, to determine the
as Preventive Health Care Strategies number of cattle in Asante, next to determine
To ensure that the various policies and strat- the number of unhealthy cattle in order for
egies put in place by the colonial administra- the administration to take swift action to de-
tion functioned effectively, the colonial gov- termine the cause, and lastly to determine the
ernment, together with the trypanosomiasis death rate among cattle in Asante to ascertain
committee, enacted several ordinances. There whether the mortality of the cattle was as a re-
was the enactment of the Disease of Animals sult of nagana (animal trypanosomiasis).
Ordinance, also known as the Registration of In addition, by 1940, rules were proposed
Cattle Ordinance in Kumase. According to the to help curb the spread of the disease, but it 119
ordinance, ‘disease’ refers to any disease of ep- was not obligatory for any person to undergo a
izootic character, which the governor in coun- course of treatment for trypanosomiasis. Signif-
cil might declare as a disease. The law provided icantly, the rules applied to only the indigenous
room for other health officials to be in charge people who started treatment of their own free
in case there was the absence of a veterinary of- will. The rule ensured that those who offered
ficer. Furthermore, in situations where there themselves for treatment continued with it un-
is an absence of the aforementioned officials, til the Medical Officer discharged them (MAG,
the district commissioner was to be in charge Kumase, MAG 1/1/162A, Rule 27 of 1940 pub-
(PRAAD, Kumase, ARG1/14/16, Dispatch lished in Gazette 71 of 2nd November 1940 and
from the Secretary of the Governor 31 Decem- Manhyia Archives of Ghana, Kumase, MAG
st
ber, 1925 and PRAAD, Kumase, ARG1/14/26, 1/1/162A, Rule 27 of 1940 published in Gazette
Native Doctors and Physician). Under this law, 71 of 2nd November 1940, page 24. Regulations
every person owning cattle was required to reg- made by the Governor in Council under Sec-
ister at the office of the veterinary officer with tion 18 of the Infectious diseases). These rules
no fees or cost. However, punishment was at- were applied in places like Kumase, Mampon,
tached to those who did not comply. A penal- Dwaben, Esumeja, Kokofu, Nsuta, Adanse,
ty not exceeding more than 10 pounds or im- Kumawu, Offinso, Edweso, Agona, Banda Indigenous and European Policies and Strategies for Combatting Asante Trypanosomiasis
prisonment not exceeding three months was and Wenkyi in the Bono Ahafo region which
imposed (MAG, Kumase, MAG 1/1/85, Section formed part of northern Asante. Others places
15 of the Native Authority Ordinance, Cap 79. included Mo, Abeasi, Nkoranza, Gyaman, Bere-
Regulations made by the Governor in Council kum, Techiman and Dormaa or Wampamu in
under Section 18 of the Infectious diseases Or- the Bono Ahafo.
dinance, Gazetted in 1935). In 1919, an amend- The proposed rules were made by the Na-
ment was made to section 17 of the Disease of tive Authority in the Asante Confederacy
Animals Ordinance of 1918. The new amend- Council with the approval of the governor un-
ment ensured that all foreign cattle coming into der sub-section 15 of the Native Authority Or-
the Gold Coast were confined in government dinance, Cap 79. It was enshrined that the rules
Kraals from 6pm to 6am. The government was would apply to the whole Native Authority area.
to abide by the rules in force for the control of Again, it was stated, here to emphasize, that
the Kraal, and a fine of 6d per head of cattle was whoever began the treatment of human trypa-
to be paid to the veterinary officer (MAG, Ku- nosomiasis had to continue the treatment with-
mase, MAG 1/1/85, Section 15 of the Native Au- out intermission until discharged as cured by the
thority Ordinance, Cap 79. Regulations made medical authority. In addition, any person who