News:
Paul Apreku Twum-Barimah
January 27, 2022
The Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr. Owusu Afiriyie Akoto has told parliament that government has approved a compensation package for farmers whose farms were affected by the bird flu and had to be destroyed as measures to curb the spread of the disease.
According to him nearly forty-four million Ghana cedis has been budgeted for an approved and assured the House that the exercise would be carried out transparently to ensure justice of all.
And to prevent the disease and other trans-border diseases government has finalised the Animal Health Bill for the consideration of the House; its passage would ensure effective regulation of live stocks and the poultry industry.
The ministry would be empowered to ensure the veterinary service enforce management standards in all animal farms in the country with a new legal framework and sanctions would be apply to farms by closing their farms to serve as a deterrent.
“When successful, Mr. Speaker this would ensure that we cub the outbreak of diseases for us to build robust and resilient animal sector”.
Member of Parliament for Dormaa East Paul Apreku Twum-Barimah asked the sector Minister steps being taken to assist poultry farmers who were severely affected by the bird flu outbreak and measures to prevent the recurrence of the adversity.
As a follow up question he asked if compensation would be paid to farms who suffered same fate in 2015.
The Minister who was a former ranking member of the Committee on Food Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs when the said issue occurred noted that others were paid whiles others were not paid, they had few petitions at the time and the records are in the ministry.
“There was an outstanding amount of two million Ghana cedis we intend to settle that amount by the 2022 budget that has been approved by cabinet for this exercise”, he said.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com