News
Veterinary Services advises:Report high morbidity,mortality of birds on farms
Poultry farmers have been advised to promptly report to the Veterinary Services anytime they see high morbidity and mortality of birds on their farms.
This, according to experts, would ensure quick intervention and help curb the spread of the Avian virus (Bird flu).
Bird flu is a viral zoonotic disease of chicken, turkey, guinea fowl, and other avian species, especially migratory waterfowl.
The disease is of public health importance because it can affect human beings as well.
The virus since July this year has killed about 100,000 birds in some regions, and affected farmers look up to government for assistance.
However, the Veterinary Services indicate that the previous weeks had seen a significant decline in the number of cases recorded across the country.
Our photographer, Mr Geoffery Buta, visited some farms in Accra to capture some officers providing support to some farmers while helping to dispose of some dead birds.
Veterinary officers say there was more to be done to contain the disease, but attributed the decline so far to the adherence to safety measures by the farmers.
Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, Western North, Volta, Central and Upper West regions had all recorded cases of bird flu.
There has been a ban on the importation of poultry and poultry products from neighbouring countries as part of measures to help curb the spread of the disease.
Government had given indication of meeting the compensation request of farmers, but it is unclear how soon the request would be met.
Ghana had outbreaks of Avian Influenza in 2007, 2015, 2016 and 2018.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Executive Committee member and Volta River Authority (VRA) Board Member, Wonder Victor Kutor, has described calls for the resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as premature and unjustified.
He argued that there was no evidence to establish that the minister had committed any wrongdoing to warrant such demands.
Speaking on Joy News in Accra on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Mr Kutor questioned what had changed to justify the growing calls for the minister to step down.
He recalled that the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, had earlier indicated that the opposition was not accusing Mr Ablakwa of any wrongdoing.
Mr Kutor, therefore, challenged those demanding the minister’s resignation to provide fresh evidence to support their position.
“The call for the Minister to resign is premature, it is untenable. There is no evidence. I mean, what has he done wrong?” he questioned.
He added that documents, including boarding passes, airline receipts and flight manifests relating to the minister’s return journey, had been provided.
Mr Kutor expressed concern that the calls for Mr Ablakwa’s resignation could discourage young politicians from speaking out against corruption and advocating transparency.
According to him, politicians should not be targeted or maligned for demanding accountability, warning that such treatment could create the impression that speaking against corruption could later become a liability when one is appointed to public office.
He maintained that calling for accountability and transparency should not be used as grounds to target public officials without evidence of wrongdoing.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana will host the Africa Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTAC) 2026 alongside Industrial Skills Week Africa (ISWA) 2026 in Accra from December 9 to 12, 2026.
On the back of these programmes, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on corporate Ghana, the media and the general public to support the initiative through partnerships, sponsorships and active participation.
The events, supported by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), will bring together stakeholders to celebrate Africa’s rich cultural heritage, strengthen the creative economy, promote industrial skills development and create employment opportunities for young people.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
