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Ghana free of Bird Flu
By Kweku Asare, Accra
Accra, Sept. 30, Ghanadot - Ghanaian authorities have
confirmed that the country is free of the recent of Avian
Influenza, other wise known as “Bird Flu” according to
results obtained from the Accra Veterinary Laboratory and
the Noguchi Memorial for Medical Research.
Ghanadot investigations in Accra said there has been
authentication from the US Naval Research Laboratory in
Cairo and the World Organization for Animal Health/FAO and
National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and
Newcastle Disease in Padova, Italy.
Madam Anna Nyamekye, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture
told Ghanadot in an interview that Ghana was actually free
from the Avian Influenza and was working to ensure that the
disease does not break out again.
The Avian Influenza since its detection on April 24, at a
small-scale poultry farm in Tema this year, has led to the
death of 13,371 birds leaving 27,356 birds' disinfected and
many farms yards destroyed and put under strict
surveillance.
Madam Nyamekye said the ban on importation of birds and
poultry products was however, still in place, but only
affects countries where there have been reported cases of
the deadly disease.
She explained that importers could still import poultry from
countries that have not reported bird flu cases.
She earlier told journalists that last week that since the
occurrence of the disease, the Ministry has resorted to
strict measures designed to eradicate the disease from
poultry farms and private farms.
The Deputy Minister said a compensations package has been
paid out to affected farmers indicating that the Ministry of
Food and Agriculture has disbursed of ˘1,595,777,656 billion
cedis (1.5 million Ghana Cedis), to poultry farmers whose
farms where hit by the Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) disease.
The amount is to serve as compensation to the three most
affected municipalities, notably Tema in the Greater Accra
Region, Asokwa in Sunyani and the Aflao District of the
Volta Region.
Poultry farmers affected at Tema and Asokwa received
˘1,381,402,156 billion cedis (1.3 million Ghana Cedis) and
˘113,741,500 million cedis (113.700 Ghana Cedis)
respectively, whereas farmers in the Aflao District received
˘100,634,000 million (100.600 Ghana Cedis).
In all, over 40,000 Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) infected
birds were destroyed.
She said the amount was distributed on agreed terms with the
Ministry, the Ghana Poultry Development Board and the level
at which the poultry farmers were affected.
She however appealed to Insurance Companies and Banks to
create a portfolio for farmers and their produce thereby
establishing confidence in the farmers even at difficult
times.
Meanwhile, the ban on imported food products and birds from
affected countries such as Nigeria, La Cote D'Ivoire, Niger,
Burkina Faso, Egypt and other 30 countries is still in
effect.
Kweku Asare, ACCRA, September 30, 2007, Ghanadot
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