The Ministry of Agriculture has placed a temporary ban on the sale and movement of live birds within the Accra metropolis with immediate effect. 

This follows a linkage of the recent outbreak of bird flu in Accra to street vendors by the Veterinary Services Directorate of the ministry.

In a statement, the ministry said the ban is part of measures to prevent more outbreaks.

“The general public and especially cockerel and pullets vendors are advised to cease the practice until further notice as their movement from place to place poses a threat to both humans and birds.”

Meanwhile, the Poultry Farmers Association of Ghana has charged Parliament to expedite action on plans to compensate its members who have lost hundreds of birds to the recent bird flu outbreak in the country.

An outbreak of the flu last month led to the destruction of over 30,000 birds in the Ashanti, Volta and Greater Accra Regions.

Some of the affected farmers are said to be struggling to cope with the situation. President of the Poultry Farmers Association Victor Oppong Adjei says Parliament must do something now because it is not the first time farmers have been affected by bird flu in Ghana.