Poultry vendors in the Central Business District of Accra especially, those at the Makola market, defied the 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.
[contextly_sidebar id=”IQLi8K5MgKPp7ENg2ATZ4veKMvA9eOqx”]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 were aware of the ban however appealed to government to control the ravaging bird flu, which has affected some poultry farms in the country.
Mohammed Atinyine, a poultry vendor said the situation demands that the government takes urgent steps to save the poultry industry from collapsing.
He said the poultry industry is their only source of livelihood and therefore; if it collapses, they will be 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.
Edward Azumah, another poultry vendor urged the MOFA to intensify mass education on the avian flu to create more awareness.
Kofi Antwi, a businessman lauded government for the directive, stating that it will 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.
Source: GNA