The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is assuring the public it is safe to consume locally produced poultry during the festive season.
A recent outbreak of bird flu in parts of the country led to the killing of more than 50,000 birds and has negatively affected poultry producers.
Poultry farms in the Ashanti, Western, Greater Accra and Central regions were the hardest hit areas of the outbreak in July.
Government, due to the severity of the outbreak paid about GHc1 million as compensation to the affected farmers.
About a week ago, health authorities in the Tema Metropolis confirmed an outbreak of the influenza in the area.
This has made consumers skeptical about whether or not it is safe to consume chicken during the yuletide.
However, Deputy Minister in charge of Livestock, Dr. Hannah Bissiw, insists they are safe to consume.
“The farmers have invested their livelihood in poultry farming. A lot of these farmers and about 98% of our farms are safe and so anytime we create the impression that it’s not safe to eat chicken, then we are causing a lot of economic losses to farmers.
This however does not mean that birds that are affected with bird flu should be consumed, he added.
Source: myjoyonline