Poultry farmer in the country are calling for a total ban on the importation of Day-Old Chicks into the country.
The ban, the farmers say, will boost the hatchery business in Ghana.
Their call follows the announcement by the Deputy Minister of Agric in charge of livestock, Dr. Hannah Bissiw, of a ban on the importation of Day-Old Chicks from neighbouring countries like La Cote d’ Ivoire and Burkina Faso into Ghana.
The ban forms part of efforts to strengthen surveillance to check the possible cross-border transmission of avian influenza from neighbouring countries into Ghana.
The Deputy Minister was adressing members of the Dormaa Poultry Farmers Association at Dormaa Ahenkro, in the Brong Ahafo region.
Dr. Bissiw underscored the need to enforce such stringent measures in that Municipality-the hub of the poultry industry in the country, that also shared boundary with La Cote D’Ivoire.
Commenting about the ban in an interview with Fox News, the National President of Poultry Farmers Association, Mr. Victor Oppong Adjei said though they welcome the ban, they will wish it (the ban) is extended to include Day-Old Chicks imported from European countries.
He noted that, most hatcheries in Ghana are operating under capacity due to unavailability of ready market for their products.
Mr. Oppong however, local hatchery operators to do well to improve upon the quality of chicks they produce.
