The Coalition of Unemployed Veterinary Officers of Ghana have issued a 21-day ultimatum to government to provide a satisfactory explanation and subsequently deploy the remaining 550 cleared veterinary officers together with those who have completed their mandatory National Service.
The coalition also implores the Minister of Food and Agriculture to expedite the deployment process or face peaceful protests at the ministry’s premises until their demands are met.
In August 2020, the Coalition drew attention to the plight of over 1000 qualified Veterinary Officers who, despite graduating from the esteemed Veterinary Colleges of Ghana, remain unemployed for nearly three years.
Addressing a press conference at the Pong-Tamale Verterinary College, while acknowledging the deployment of the first 50% of the promised officers to their respective posts, Abdul Ganiyu Iddrisu, President of the Coalition expressed deep disappointment over the inexplicable delay in deploying the remaining 50%, as directed by President Akufo-Addo.
“We commend the government’s response to our call, as articulated by His Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo during the 37th annual National Farmers’ Day celebration in 2021. The promise of recruiting 1100 Veterinary Officers by 2022 was a beacon of hope for our profession and the agricultural landscape,” he stated.
“Currently as we speak, the number of graduates sitting at home are close to two thousand and some are on the verge of completion. This delay in recruiting the remaining 50% raises concerns about the commitment of the Ministry of Agriculture to address the critical shortage of veterinary personnel and its potential impact on public health and agricultural sustainability,” he stressed.
Frustrations
According to the group, their frustration stems from the failure of successive attempts to engage the Ministry of Agriculture in constructive dialogue regarding the delayed deployment.
“Despite our relentless efforts, including numerous trips from Tamale to Accra and financial contributions from coalition members, our inquiries remain unanswered.”
“The significance of our cause cannot be overstated, particularly in light of recent disease outbreaks such as Avian Influenza and Anthrax, which have devastated livestock populations and threatened human health. The tragic loss of life resulting from the consumption of infected meat underscores the urgency of bolstering disease surveillance and veterinary services across the country,” Abdul Ganiyu Iddrisu lamented.
Ultimatum
In light of these pressing concerns, the Unemployed Veterinary Officers Coalition of Ghana implored the Minister of Food and Agriculture to expedite the deployment process or face peaceful protests at the Ministry’s premises until their demands are met.
“The government should note that, these overwhelming number of graduates are part of the voting population, and our impact cannot be underestimated,“ the President of the Coalition noted.