The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has secured GH¢20m for poultry farmers whose farms were hit by the Avian Influenza H5N1, popularly known as ‘Bird Flu’.

According to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie, the funds will be disbursed to the affected farmers after the necessary modalities are completed.

“We have secured the money from the Finance Ministry. By next week, we will start the disbursement; we are still in the process of concluding the modalities for the disbursement. We are processing the modalities for payment, the money is with us”.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto

The outbreak of the Avian Influenza H5N1, popularly known as ‘Bird Flu’ in some parts of Ghana resulted in the destruction of about 700,000 birds in addition to tonnes of crates of egg.

The outbreak was confirmed by the Accra Veterinary Laboratory on the 8th July, 2021, following reports that came from farms at Nungua, Lashibi, Klagon, Darkuman, and Tema Community 25, all in the Greater Accra Region. Further cases of the disease were also confirmed at Domenase near Potsin and Denu in the Gomoa East and Ketu South Districts, respectively.

However, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto disclosed in an interview on an Accra-based FM station that the situation is currently under control but the plea of the affected poultry farmers for compensation could not be ignored by the Ministry, knowing that the latest strain of the bird flu was very deadly and has affected the poultry industry immensely.

He further explained that the compensation to the affected poultry farmers was delayed because the Ministry needed accurate data to know the extent of damage to plan how much funds were to be disbursed.

The Agric Minister also revealed that the government has approved the employment of some veterinary surgeons across the country.

“The government has given financial clearance for the recruitment of 500 veterinary surgeons and technicians to expand services and improve animal health in the country“.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto.

Avian influenza outbreaks in Ghana

Avian influenza (AI) is a disease of viral etiology that ranges from a mild or even asymptomatic infection to an acute, fatal disease of chicken, turkey, guinea fowl, and other avian species, especially migratory waterfowl.

According to a report by MoFA, the first HPAI H5N1 outbreak in Ghana was reported in April 2007 on a farm at Kakasunanka, near Michel Camp in the Tema Metropolis. This was followed by further outbreaks at New Dormaa of Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo region and Aflao in the Volta region.

The disease reoccurred in 2015 and 2016 in six regions of Ghana namely Greater Accra, Central, Eastern, Western, Volta, and Ashanti, affecting 148,448 birds. In June 2018, H5N1 outbreaks were reported at Bonkra and Atia in the Ashanti region as well as Nkawkaw in the Eastern region, affecting 12,175 birds. The latest outbreaks were reported last year.

There have been initiatives by the government to revamp the poultry industry in Ghana. Notably amongst them is the Rearing for Food and Jobs (RFJ) which is targeted at increasing local poultry production to curb importation. The just-ended Ghana poultry project in December 2021, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), was also an initiative to revamp the poultry sector in Ghana.