Daniel’s Story

Written August 1 2024

Est. 3 minute read

Daniel is a Christian and a veterinarian in Ghana tackling animal cruelty.

He is a CFI reader.

Academic and Career Background 

I come from the Upper East region of Ghana where I attended primary and secondary education.

  • 2016-2022:  Studied Veterinary Medicine at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

I am currently a licensed veterinarian and Director of Animal Welfare League, an animal advocacy organization working to tackle animal cruelty in Ghana.

Thoughts on Career 

  • Motivation to study veterinary medicine:

    • A shepherd from a young age.

    • Developed a love for animals by spending time with them in the fields after school.

  • Influenced to study Veterinary Medicine as:

    • I noticed that members in my community had died from consuming beef.

    • I found it fascinating that animals can impact human health if not properly cared for.

  • Challenges faced:

    • My parents did not initially support the decision.

    • My parents and I had never seen a veterinary doctor, making it hard for them to understand my ambitions.

  • Resolution:

    • Determined to fill the gap in veterinary care.

    • Eventually gained parental support.

Animal Welfare

When I started studying, I realised there was so much more I could do for animals. I knew I needed to be a voice for animals, particularly in the area of Ghana that I come from. When applying for internships, I found that animal policy and advocacy organisations were few and far between. Eventually though, I discovered a program organised by Animal Advocacy Africa, which paved the way for founding Animal Welfare League based in Ghana.

At Animal Welfare League, we focus on research and community engagement. Although there has been pushback with some farmers, our cage-free project to encourage ethical farming has seen 61 farmers to commit to cage-free systems, impacting over 200,000 poultry.

Impact of Faith

Growing up, my mom was a practicing Christian and used to take me and my siblings to Church. The turning point of my relationship with God happened when I attended Sunday school and began to learn the value of praying to God and doing His will. Conversations with the priests of a nearby convent about Father Francis influenced my decision to study veterinary medicine because of the call to have compassion for animals.

Advice for Young Christians

I would encourage engagement with like-minded communities. The thinking behind Christians for Impact has helped me be a better Christian as it has provided me with a platform to share the gospel by encouraging animal welfare. My supervisor always says his vocational ministry is true teaching. For me, it’s animal welfare. 

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