Livestock Census to Strengthen Disease Surveillance- Agric Minister
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has announced plans for a nationwide animal census to register livestock and their owners as part of efforts to improve livestock management and strengthen disease surveillance across the country.
He noted that the exercise will create a comprehensive national database that will support the monitoring of animal populations, improve disease detection and response, as well as enhance planning within the livestock sector.
Mr Opoku made the announcement on Friday during a ceremony at the Ministry , where the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations handed over four-wheel drive vehicles, motorcycles and information and communication technology equipment to support Ghana’s animal health system.
He said the planned census forms part of the government’s wider efforts to modernise livestock management while improving the country’s preparedness against animal disease outbreaks and future pandemics.
The Minister noted that the logistics support from FAO, provided under the World Bank Pandemic Fund Programme, will strengthen veterinary service delivery and disease surveillance nationwide.
He disclosed that the project will eventually provide 20 four-wheel drive vehicles, more than 260 motorcycles, nearly 300 ICT devices and support the rehabilitation of six veterinary laboratories across the country.
Mr Opoku said the investments aligns with the Feed Ghana Programme and the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda, adding that healthy livestock remain essential to increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring food security.
The Interim FAO Representative in Ghana, Priya Gujadur, said the support is intended to strengthen the veterinary workforce, improve laboratory systems and enhance disease surveillance and early warning systems.
She said about 175 veterinary personnel and wildlife officers have already been trained in disease surveillance, reporting and diagnosis under the project over the past year.
Ms. Gujadur reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to working with the Government of Ghana to strengthen surveillance, early warning, disease detection and outbreak response to improve the country’s resilience against future animal and zoonotic disease threats.
Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD
