MOFA denies government's involvement in sheep deal

Accra, Oct. 21, GNA- The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) on Tuesday denied Government's involvement in the alleged acceptance and importation of over 50,000 Australian sheep believed to be infected with scabby disease into Ghana.

Scabby mouth disease is an infection that causes lesions in the sheep's mouth and feet. It could infect human handlers of infected sheep. A statement issued in Accra and signed by Miss Clara Moore, of the Public Relations Directorate of the Ministry, said: "The Ministry categorically denies the involvement of Ghana Government since it has not permitted the importation of any live sheep nor is it aware of any arranged importation of live sheep from Australia."

It was in reaction to a publication in the "Heritage" newspaper in its October 20, edition under the headline: "Ghana Accepts Rejected Sheep". Paper claimed it was quoting from an Australian newspaper, "Sunday Telegraph".

The statement said: "The Ministry is, however, not happy with the publication because the newspaper failed to contact it to ascertain the truth of the matter."

It said as a result of the unnecessary epidemic scare caused by the publication the Ministry had investigated the matter and found out that the publication that gave the impression that the ship loaded with the sheep was already in Ghana's territorial waters and heading to discharge the sheep in Ghana was untrue.

The statement said investigations by the Ministry showed that nearly 58,000 sheep were loaded onto a ship MV Cormo Express in Fremantle in Western Australia on August 5 bound for Saudi Arabia.

It said on arrival, the Saudi Government veterinarians boarded the ship and inspected the sheep and declared that at least six per cent of the sheep had scabby mouth and no country had, therefore, accepted the sheep.

The Ministry said its officers at the ports and all the security agents have been alerted and would under no circumstances allow entry into Ghana any live animals that had been rejected by any country due to disease.