By Anita Kwapong
Participants at a post-advocacy workshop on Biosecurity and Bio-certification framework held in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital have called on the government to develop a national biosecurity plan, enact the requisite laws, and develop standards to support the biosecurity framework.
The workshop organized by the African Women in Agribusiness Network, AWIA, and the African Women in Animal Resource Farming and Agribusiness, AgriBiz, with funding support from GIZ was to advocate for a comprehensive Biosecurity and Bio-certification framework as well as to strategize future steps for enhancing biosecurity practices in Ghana’s livestock and aquaculture industries.
The poultry, piggery and aquaculture industries in Ghana face significant challenges in maintaining high biosecurity standards essential for practicing animal health and safeguarding public health. Through this initiative AWIA and AWARFA-N Ghana are working to address these challenges by advocating for a biosecurity framework that can certify farms and facilities that adhere to strict safety standards.
The workshop aims to provide stakeholders, partners and donors with updates on the progress made in establishing biosecurity standards and the bio-certification framework for Ghana’s poultry, piggery and aquaculture sectors. It also afforded participants to share ideas, discuss challenges and strategize future steps for enhancing biosecurity practices in Ghana’s livestock and aquaculture industries.
The Country President for African Women in Animal Resource Farming, AWARFA-N, Dr. Mrs Victoria Afua Norgbey highlighted how far the biosecurity standards and the bio-certification framework have reached and how useful it will be all the stakeholders involved.
According to her, training manuals have been developed for a ready set-off after its pilot phase. She was of the opinion that Bio-certification is very key as it will come in handy to be used in the payment of compensations to farmers when there is an outbreak of animal diseases.
A senior Veterinary Officer at the Fish Health Unit of the Fisheries Commission, Dr. Ewurabena Ntiamoah Bediako, also stated that officers at her outfit are being trained to help farmers develop their biosecurity management plan in order to produce safe and quality fish for both local and international markets.
The Aquatic Animal Health Strategy is being developed through the support of donor agencies to guide the way forward in producing safe and quality fish. This, according to her, will reduce disease incidents and thereby reduce the use of antibiotics and chemicals in fish farming.