Abstract
Ghana is on the verge of privatizing selected activities in the delivery of animal health services. However, various constraints are being encountered. The aim of this paper is to identify these constraints so as to help find solutions to them.
Questionnaires were administered to veterinarians in Ghana to elicit their responses on various issues concerning privatization. A significant proportion (61%) of government veterinarians, who formed 94% of the respondents, were unwilling to go into private practice. Among the reasons given were that private practice was too risky, that farmers were unwilling or unable to pay for services, that capital to start practices was lacking and that the societal value for animals was low. Also, low livestock densities in many areas and the absence of commercial livestock farming were perceived as deterrents to the sustainability of private practice. Furthermore, the poor macroeconomic environment of high inflation, high interest rates and unstable currency discouraged investment.
If privatization of veterinary services is to succeed in Ghana, these perceptions have to be addressed and solutions found, since veterinarians are the targets of the privatization process.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Acheampong, N., 1994, updated 1996. Emerging capital markets: the research agenda and the Ghana Stock Exchange, (Working paper, University of Portsmouth, UK)
Agyen-Frempong, M., 1997. Comments. FAO Electronic Conference on Principles for Rational Delivery of Public and Private Veterinary Services, January-April 1997
Akyeampong, M.K.S., 1994. Keynote address. Proceedings of Ghana Animal Science Association Symposium, 22, 1-6
Baker, J.L., 1995. Profile of Veterinary Services in New Zealand, (FAO, Rome)
de Haan, C. and Bakure, S., 1991. Animal Health Services in sub-Saharan Africa. Initial Experiences with Alternative Approaches, (Technical paper 134, TheWorld Bank, Washington DC)
de Haan, C. and Umali, D.L., 1992. Public and private sector roles in the supply of veterinary services. In: J.R. Anderson and C. de Haan (eds), Public and Private Roles in Agricultural Development, Proceedings of 12th Agricultural Sector symposium, (TheWorld Bank, Washington DC), 125-137
FAO, 1997. Principles for rational delivery of public and private veterinary services with reference to Africa. FAO Electronic Conference on Principles for Rational Delivery of Public and Private Veterinary Services, January-April 1997
Fleiss, J.L., 1981. Statistical Methods for Rates and Proportions, 2nd edn, (JohnWiley, New York), 29-30
Gros, J.-G., 1994. Of cattle, farmers, veterinarians and theWorld Bank: the political economy of veterinary services privatization in Cameroun. Public Administration and Development, 14, 37-51
Knichel,W. and Gyening, K.O., 1989. Study on privatization of veterinary services in Ghana, (Final Report submitted to EEC)
Last, J.M. (ed.), 1995. A Dictionary of Epidemiology, 3rd edn, (Oxford University Press, New York)
Mlangwa, J.E.D. and Kisauzi, D.N., 1994. Systems approach to animal health services delivery in sub-Saharan Africa: the case of privatization. Revue scientifique technique. Office des International Epizooties, 13, 673-685
Odeyemi, I.A.O., 1994. A review of the policy to privatize animal health delivery services in Nigeria, (Report submitted to Edinburgh University Development Fund, University of Edinburgh)
Odeyemi, I.A.O., 1997. Understanding privatization of animal health delivery systems in Africa: Concepts, impacts and appropriate approaches. Parts I and II. FAO Electronic Conference on Principles for Rational Delivery of Public and Private Veterinary Services, January-April 1997
Turkson, P.K., 1998. Systems analysis of privatization of animal health delivery services in Ghana and Jamaica, (PhD thesis, North Carolina State University)
Van Veen, T.W.S. and de Haan, C., 1995. Trends in the organization and financing of livestock and animal health services. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 25, 225-240
Varkevisser, C.M., Pathmanathan, I. and Brownlee, A., 1991. Designing and conducting health systems research projects. Part II. Data analysis and report writing. Health Systems Research Training Series, 2, (IDRC-287e.2, International Development Research Center, Ontario, Canada), 72-73
Wamukoya, J.P.O., Gathuma, J.W. and Mutiga, E.R., 1995. Spontaneous Private Veterinary Practice Evolved in Kenya since 1988, (Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome)
World Bank, 1997. African Development Indicators 1996, (TheWorld Bank, Washington DC)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Turkson, P., Brownie, C. Perceived Constraints to Privatization of Delivery of Veterinary Services in Ghana. Tropical Animal Health and Production 31, 103–114 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005167724020
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005167724020