The Veterinary Services Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) organised a short ceremony to pay the money to farmers.

The 1 million compensation package was part of Government and the Ministry’s efforts to encourage farmers to report any early detection of bird flu outbreak on their farms, and to further stress Government’s commitment to help the affected farmers get themselves back into business.

The number of birds of various species and ages destroyed belonging to the 25 farmers were 44,144 and the amount to be paid is GH¢ 1,067,355.

The compensation package took care of 90 per cent of damages caused to the affected farmers, and to ensure a fair distribution, the Ministry adopted a simple formula to calculate the payment of the compensation based on the market value of live birds, eggs and feed.

The sector Minister, Fifi Kwetey, was in attendance and presented the cheques to the farmers.

He said: "The Ghana Government through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is fully aware of the importance of payment of compensation to affected poultry farmers in the wake of the outbreaks of bird flu in the country. Such compensation payment will certainly encourage early reporting and contribute to control activities."

Mr Kwetey acknowledged the support of the US embassy, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, as well as the farmers themselves for their hard work.