Accra, April 21, GNA - Dr. Kwesi Bowi Darkwa, president of Ghana Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA) on Tuesday called on government to establish a separate institution under the Ministry of Agriculture to enable the veterinary service to perform its core function. "With the creation of such an autonomous body, the Veterinary Service of Ghana will regain its status in animal health and will be conforming to international standards in legislation structure and organisation as set by the World Organisation for Animal," he said. Dr. Darkwa made the call at the launch of the 9th World Veterinary Day, dubbed "Veterinarians and Livestock Farmers - A Wining Partnership," in Accra.

He said the Veterinary Service had lost it effectiveness due to a World Bank condition to provide funds for the implementation of the National Livestock Stock Project and Unified Agriculture Extension System introduced.

"Under this system all 11 departments in Ministry of Food and Agriculture including the Veterinary Service were lumped together and Veterinary Doctors were mandated to perform the duties of Agriculturist aside their core function", he said.

Dr Darkwa said as part of the system, new designations, including District Agricultural Development Officer (DADO) and Agriculture Extension Officer Agent (AEO) were introduced. Quoting a portion of the new job description, he said, "The DADO may be Veterinary Officer, but he is expected to respond adequately to crops, irrigation and socioeconomic problems with as much effectiveness as would be the case if the problem were to be veterinary in nature." Dr Darkwa said for the Veterinary Service to effectively and efficiently respond to the numerous emerging epidemics in the country, its autonomous department with able chain of command including disease reporting and central networks nationwide should be reinstated. He announced that with effect from next academic year, a course in Veterinary Service would be introduced in the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Dr Darkwa said the present number of about 233 Veterinary Doctors would increase with the introduction of the course which is the first of it kind in Ghana.