Govt forced to close livestock breeding stations

The government was made to close down 17 out of the 23 livestock breeding stations across the country as one of the conditions set by the World Bank before funding could be provided to implement a National Livestock Services Project.

It was among the many conditions set by the World Bank for Ghana Government to fulfil before funding could be provided for the project to be implemented from 1993 to 1999.

The action let to the closure of all the government livestock breeding stations leaving only six in five regions, Dr Mathew K. Antwi, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, told Parliament on Wednesday when answering a question posed by Ms Akua Sena Dansua, NDC- North Dayi, as to what steps the ministry was taking to reactivate the animal Husbandry Project at Vakpo-Adomi or divest it.

The Deputy Minister, who stood in for the substantive minister, Major Courage Quashigah (rtd), said just before the start of the project, there was at least one livestock breeding station in each region. Seventeen out of the 23 stations were closed down in accordance with the condition set for the credit by the World Bank and the Vakpo Sheep Station was among those that were closed down.

Dr Antwi said the Government did not pay any compensation for acquiring the land for the breeding station, which meant that it was not the owner and as such could not divest it. He said the ministry had no plans to revamp the station and suggested that the Vakpo community should, therefore, be encouraged to find private investors to utilise the station.

When Ms Dansua asked to know the underlying reasons for the closure of the station the minister said he presumed it might have been due to non-performance. Mr Modestus Ahiable, NDC-Ketu North, asked why the decision of not revamping the station was not communicated to the people.

The Minister said he came to meet the situation and was not in a position to have acted on it but added that the Ministry was taking inventory of all projects to determine their viability.