The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has been given a month ultimatum to disburse compensation totaling GH¢1.4 million to farmers, who had their poultry birds destroyed due to the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza disease, between 2015 and 2018.
Out of the 41 farmers, only 16 have been paid compensation so far, although the money had been released to the MoFA for onward payment to beneficiaries, since 2022.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament issued the ultimatum in Accra yesterday, when officials of the MoFA appeared before the committee, to provide responses to audit infractions captured in the 2022 Auditor General's report.
The report found that following the release of GH¢1,999,768.10 by the Ministry of Finance for the payment of compensation to farmers affected by the outbreak of disease from 2015 to 2018, only GH¢191,730.00 was paid to 10 farmers, leaving GH¢1,808,038.10 unaccounted for.
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In response, Abdul Rashid Tahiru, Financial Controller, MoFA, noted that following the audit, an additional GH¢345,000 had been paid to some affected farmers, who presented the birds' destruction certificate.
He explained that the farmers, who were yet to receive compensation, failed to submit the relevant documentation, including the destruction certificate and personal bank details for onward processing for payment.
Mr Tahiru said the release from the Ministry of Finance covered birds destroyed from 2015 to 2018 and 2021 due to the outbreak of the disease.
He added that "currently, we have paid compensation to all the farmers who had their birds destroyed in 2021. Those yet to be paid were affected in 2015 to 2018 and we are expecting them to submit the necessary documentation to MoFA for onward payment."
Queried on whether the farmers were aware of the release of the money, Mr Tahiru, said all regional veterinary officers were directed to inform the farmers of the availability of the compensation for them to contact the MoFA for payment.
Deputy Minister of MoFA, Yaw Frimpong Addo, said although the ministry took inventory of all the farmers, the presentation of the document was a requirement before payment could be effected.
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He gave the assurance that the MoFA was prepared to transfer the compensation (money) to the affected farmers.
Not satisfied by the responses, Chairman of PAC, Dr James Klutse Avedzi, directed that the MoFA complete the payment of compensation within a month to the farmers who were going through various challenges.
He asked MoFA to intensify efforts and pay affected farmers their compensation, to avoid the impression that government was not doing anything after destroying the birds.
"We are giving you one month to complete the disbursements to these affected farmers. The money is idling in the ministry's account with the value going down while at the same time, our farmers suffer," Dr Avedzi stated.
Member of Parliament (MP) of Bole Bamboi, and member of the committee, Mr Yusif Sulemana, said delays in the payment of compensation to the farmers was a contributing factor in some poultry farms being out of business.
He therefore, tasked the MoFA to identify the affected farmers and help address their challenges.
Mr Kofi Adams, MP for Buem, and member of the committee, cautioned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) against misuse of funds, saying that the misapplication of funds and lackadaisical attitude by officials in using state funds was detrimental to the realisation of project targets.
