Over GH8,800 cedi ($9,450) was on July 20 paid as compensation to three poultry farmers whose birds and farm implements were destroyed as a result of the outbreak of the Avian Influenza or bird flu on their farms.
Mr. Abraham Bawuah received the highest amount of over GH¢6,000 ($6,450) for 1,500 birds destroyed, Mr. Charles Kumi had GH¢2,200 for 500 birds and Mr. Gladstone Damalie, got a little over GH¢600 for the destruction of 157 birds.
Mr. Damalie, on whose farm the disease was first detected, expressed disappointment about his amount, saying he was not compensated for 170 layers that he had earlier destroyed. He said the officers said compensation would only be paid for birds they had destroyed but added that when he first detected symptoms of the disease on the farm, he reported to the veterinary officers who sent samples to Accra for confirmation. He said the report from Accra took a week and by the time the confirmation came, 170 birds had died.
"I should have been compensated for these birds because the order for their destruction came from them", Damaliee complained, adding if he had not reported, the situation would have aggravated and its combat would have been more difficult.
Veterinary officer Charles Ghanney said the panic about the disease had diminished as the situation had been brought under control. He advised continued monitoring and the quick reporting of anything unusual to the veterinary office. He said the ban on movement of poultry and poultry products within the municipality was still in force and that the office had tightened security at the borders to stop the importation of poultry products.
A total of 1,965 birds were destroyed on the three farms during the outbreak of the flu, whilst more than 500 local poultry suffered the same fate in May.
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