Meet Freedom Jacob Caesar, the Ghanaian who lives with Tigers as Pet in Accra

Ghanaian philanthropist Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Freedom Jacob Caesar, has confirmed staying with two tigers in his Wonder World Estates, Avenue Lincoln near the British High Commission at Ridge in Accra.

“First of all, it is right, I have two tigers that I bought on a bid between Ghana and Dubai which I was the representative from the private sector that had initiated my interest in purchasing these two animals. But we did go through the process, the animals are seven months old, still at the very young stage,” Caesar told a section of the media on Thursday (19 May).

Boosting tourism in Ghana

“I went in to buy these animals to add the value of tourism in our country. I wanted to go into the Safari World by making sure that Ghana becomes the first country in the whole of West Africa, East Africa and Central Africa, except for South Africa that have these animals.

“We wanted to be the first that will have it and so, I went in for the male and the female version of it. I have been keeping them on me for six months. I brought expects from outside to create safety cage for these animals so they don’t become dangerous to the public,” the Forbes 2021 Social Entrepreneurship Leadership Award winner added.

Police investigation

The police in Accra have also confirmed the presence of the two tigers in Caesar’s residence in the capital, Accra, saying they are getting experts at the Wildlife Division to relocate the animals.

“Preliminary investigations have established that a resident in a gated community at Osu, is keeping two tigers under lock in a cage in his house,” the police statement dated 19 May 2022 said. “The police have reached out to the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission and efforts are underway to relocate the animals to an appropriate facility.”

“A special police team has been deployed to provide adequate security in the affected neighbourhood to ensure the safety of residents until the animals are relocated,” the statement signed by Chief Inspector Bright Kwabena Danso at the Accra regional office said.