Poultry farmers in the country have threatened to sell diseased birds to the Ghanaian public on occasion of another outbreak of bird flu, if government fails to meet its promised compensation over destroyed stock.
The agitation comes on the basis of an earlier destruction by government of an estimated 63,000 birds alleged to have been infested with bird flu and worth about Ghc1.8 million. In addition, there have also been a growing complain from the consumer public over an alleged increased existence diseased birds in the market.
The farmers pointed out that if such speculations have some elements of truth, the government was to be blamed for it failed to meet their obligation to the poultry farmers in compensation.
Speaking to the media on behalf of the group - Vice President of the Poultry Farmers Association of Ghana, Napoleon Agyeman Oduro explained that government failed to compensate them after the mass slaughter as promised.Â
Stressing the necessity for the payment, Mr. Oduro said: “the rationale behind the compensation payment for bird flu is to avoid farmers selling sick birds to the public. The victims are angry. They have not received compensation for their losses so every rationale human being will assume that well if government refuses to pay compensations which is globally accepted, then the conclusion is that farmers should sell unwholesome birds when they detect that the birds are sickâ€.
He added that no one expects the poultry farmers to enforce such decision, hence they are confident that government will offer a listening ears to their request and take the needed action to relieve their plight.
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