The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has paid a working visit to the Ashaiman Livestock Market, the largest livestock market in West Africa, as part of the government’s commitment to the implementation of the Livestock Development Project (LAP).

The LAP Project intends to boost meat and dairy production, particularly of cattle, pigs, and small ruminants, by introducing improved breeds and establishing capacity-building centres to enhance production.

He announced that feasibility studies had been completed and that design work was underway, marking significant progress towards the realisation of the project.

Reaffirmation

The minister reaffirmed the government’s resolve to support and develop the Ashaiman Livestock Market, emphasising its strategic role in the livestock value chain and providing employment opportunities to over 80,000 people.

He assured traders that the ministry would actively engage the association's leadership in all decisions affecting the market to ensure interventions deliver maximum impact in fulfilling President John Dramani Mahama's campaign pledge to develop the Ashaiman Livestock Market.

The minister underscored the importance of security and announced the provision of 50 streetlights to enhance night-time safety and commended the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for establishing security posts within the market to protect lives, goods and services.

On sanitation, Mr Opoku announced the provision of a tricycle to support routine cleaning activities.

He further disclosed ongoing engagements with fertiliser manufacturers to explore the use of cow dung from the market as a raw material for fertiliser production, thereby creating value from waste.

Additionally, he revealed discussions with the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly, Samuel Tetteh Kwashie Morton, regarding the procurement of a payloader for the market.

As an interim measure, he announced a GH¢30,000 support package to enable the assembly to hire equipment for immediate cleaning of the market yard pending the acquisition of the machine.

The visit reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving infrastructure, sanitation, security, and stakeholder collaboration to enhance the operations and long-term sustainability of the Ashaiman Livestock Market.

Historic visit

In his welcoming remarks, the General Secretary of the Ghana National Livestock Breeders and Traders Association (GLIBTA), Alhaji Issa Amartey, expressed appreciation to the minister for the visit, noting that it was the first time in over 60 years of the market’s existence that a sitting state official or a  Minister of Food and Agriculture had visited the facility.

He highlighted key challenges affecting the market's smooth operation, particularly animal and public health issues arising from poor environmental conditions at the mini slaughter slab, animal watering points, and within the main cattle market.

Sheikh Issah also raised concerns about inadequate security for traders and animals, and appealed for the provision of a payloader to support sanitation activities, the inclusion of the association in the supply of livestock and livestock products for government programmes, improvements in market infrastructure and management through the deployment of a Market Information System (MIS), and strengthened animal health service delivery within the market.