The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has been instructed by Parliament to compensate farmers who lost money as a result of the avian influenza, or “bird flu,” pandemic that occurred between 2015 and 2018.
A large amount of the allotted compensation funds—more than GH¢1.8 million—remain unspent in the Ministry’s account, according to the 2022 Auditor General’s Report.
The Ministry of Agriculture claims that because the impacted farmers failed to provide the required information to the Ministry, the funds have not been disbursed.
Nonetheless, James Klutse Avedzi, the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, directed the Agriculture Ministry to identify the impacted farmers and distribute the money by the end of the following month.
“I’m sure you have a certificate for destroying the birds along with a list of the farms that are impacted. I’m sure you have the contact information for these farmers; all you need to complete the transfer is their bank account information.
We are allowing you a month to swiftly distribute the funds to them. Give them a call to get their bank account information so you can make the transfer on their behalf.
