Poultry vendors defy ban on sale of live birds

Poultry vendors in the Central Business District of Accra, especially at the Makola market, are defying a ban on the sale and movement of live birds to prevent the spread of the avian influenza (Bird flu).

The directive came from the Veterinary Service Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).

A visit to a number of markets in Accra on Wednesday, saw poultry vendors briskly doing business despite the ban.

Broilers were being sold from GHȼ 60.00 to GHȼ 66.00, while old layers went for GHȼ 30.00 to GHȼ 55.00.

The poultry vendors who said they are aware of the ban however appealed to government to as a matter of urgency control the ravaging bird flu, which has engulfed some poultry farms in the country

Mohammed Atinyine, a poultry vendor told GNA that the situation demands that government takes urgent steps to save the poultry industry from collapsing.

He said the poultry industry is the only source of their livelihood and therefore; if it collapses, they would be rendered unemployed.

He explained that following the disease outbreak in the country, they usually seek clearance from the Directorate before buying their birds from any farm.

Mr Edward Azumah, a poultry vendor urged the MOFA to intensify mass education on the avian flu to create more awareness.

Mr Kofi Antwi, a businessman lauded government for the directive, stating that it would speed up efforts to control the disease.

So far 3,600 birds from two farms in Denu and Keta in the Volta Region have being destroyed by the Directorate due to infections on the farms. About 2000 birds have also been destroyed from a farm at Obuasi in the Ashanti region.