Country: Project Title: Project Symbol: Starting Date: Duration: FAO Contribution: |
Ghana Emergency Assistance to Eradicate African Swine Fever from Ghana. TCP/GHA/8925 (E) November 1999 13 months US$ 306 000 |
Through epidemio-surveillance and massive public sensitisation campaigns, Ghana Veterinary authorities have been able to detect a current outbreak of African Swine Fever at an early stage. Although the source of infection of ASF in Ghana has not yet been determined it should be noted that several countries in the region have suffered from ASF epidemics in recent years. Ghana has a pig population of approximately 450,000.It is estimated that 100,000 pigs are at immediate risk in the infected areas. If action is not taken immediately for the eradication of this infection, it could take epidemic proportions even threatening once again the large pig industry in Cote d'Ivoire and affecting the food security in the Region. According to the recent reports the disease is confined to clusters of smallholder pig farms located within a radius of 45 kilometers from Accra and Tema Metropolitan areas of the Greater Accra Region.
The primary objective of the project is to control and eradicate African Swine Fever (ASF) in Ghana. This would be achieved by carrying out a stamping-out exercise and putting in place effective surveillance mechanisms to ensure the prompt detection and confirmation of the disease should it occur again after its eradication.
To achieve these objectives the project will provide the services of: one International Consultant, ASF Eradication specialist (2 weeks); one International Consultant, Risk Analysis Specialist (6 weeks); Advisory Technical Services provided by an ASF Epidemiologist (2 weeks), and a Swine Production Specialist (2 weeks) both from AGA Headquarters; TCDC specialists on ASF Laboratory Diagnosis (6 weeks), ASF Eradication Strategist (8 weeks); Author's Contract for producing guidelines on ASF eradication; Supervisory Technical Services from RAFA and FAO-AGAH. In addition the project will cover the cost of Official Travel, Contracts, Materials and Supplies (US$ 43 000) Equipment (US$ 57 000), Training (US$ 25 000), and General as well as Direct Operating Expenses.
As a result of the project, all infected and in-contact pigs within an area of 45 Kilometers of the Accra and Tema Metropolitan areas of the Greater Accra Region and within 20 Kilometers of Bawjiase, the focus of the outbreak in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya district of the Central Region, will be destroyed and buried. Provincial and district workshops will be organised for all stakeholders, particularly pig farmers to create awareness, enable them recognise the disease when it occurs and to educate them on how not to introduce the disease into their piggeries. The capacity of the Accra Veterinary Laboratory will be developed so as to enable it carry out diagnosis of ASF and also carry out intensive sero-surveillance for the disease in the country.
AGAH-AGAP-RAFA-RAFR-TCDT-TCAR