The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has been ordered to compensate farmers affected by the avian influenza or bird flu outbreak between 2015 and 2018.
The directive was issued by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The Public Accounts Committee Chairman, James Klutse Avedzi, emphasized that the directive should be implemented within one month.
He warned that if the ministry fails to comply within the stipulated timeframe, it will be summoned before the house for questioning.
“I am sure you have a list of the farms that are affected and a certificate for destroying the birds as well. All that you need is to have the affected farmers’ bank details to do the transfer, and I am sure that you have the contact details of these farmers.”
“So we are giving you one month to disburse the monies to them quickly. Call them so that they will give their bank details so you can do the transfer for them.”
The 2022 Auditor General’s Report disclosed that a substantial portion of the allocated compensation funds, surpassing GH¢1.8 million, remains unused in the Ministry’s account.
The Agriculture Ministry cites a lack of communication from affected farmers as the reason for non-distribution.
