The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Ghana's Parliament has issued a directive to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to compensate farmers who suffered losses during the avian influenza, commonly known as the Bird Flu outbreak, between 2015 and 2018.

PAC Chairman James Klutse Avedzi emphasized the urgency of implementing the compensation, stating that the ministry should disburse the funds within one month. He cautioned that failure to comply within the stipulated time frame would result in the ministry being summoned before the house for questioning.

Avedzi noted, "I am sure you have a list of the farms that are affected and a certificate for destroying the birds as well. All that you need is to have the affected farmers’ bank details to do the transfer, and I am sure that you have the contact details of these farmers."

The directive comes in response to revelations in the 2022 Auditor General’s Report, which disclosed that a substantial portion of the allocated compensation funds, exceeding GHS1.8 million, remains unused in the ministry's account.

In defense, the Ministry of Agriculture argued that the funds have not been disbursed because affected farmers have not provided the necessary details to facilitate the compensation process.

The call for compensation underscores the importance of swift action to alleviate the losses suffered by farmers during the Bird Flu outbreak, highlighting the government's commitment to supporting the agricultural sector and ensuring fair and timely compensation for affected individuals.