Gov�t Releases Ghc11 Million To Combat Bird Flu

Government has released GHc11 million to tighten the fight against the avian influenza also known as bird flu in the country.

It has through the Ministry of Agriculture supplied 22 vehicles and 120 motorbikes to bring the disease under control. 

This was revealed by the by Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Dr Hannah Bissiw at a forum which was aimed at outlining measures put in place by government to arrest the further spread of the influenza. 

She said government has compensated twenty-five poultry farmers whose farms were affected by bird flu.

Dr Bissiw added that the compensation has so far motivated poultry farmers to report cases of suspected disease on their farms.

“The government of Ghana through the Ministry of Agriculture has supplied 22 vehicles and 120 motorbikes for the control of the avian influenza. Government has also released GHc11 million to support the fight against the disease. Government of Ghana paid compensation to 25 affected poultry farmers an amount of GHc1,067,365 representing 90% of the total current market value of GHc1, 185,928.”

So far five regions have been affected by the bird flu with Greater Accra recording the highest cases.

“Since the first outbreak of Bird Flu in May 2015 the government of Ghana and its development partners such as Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations, the World Bank, UNC and UNICEF and we’ve also found out that USAID has also been very supportive.”