Ghana has signed a landmark 10-year partnership with the U.S. state of Nebraska aimed at transforming the country’s livestock industry, reducing its heavy dependence on imported meat and dairy products, and creating new opportunities for farmers, agribusinesses and young people.
The agreement, signed during the Ghana-Nebraska Spring Livestock Modernisation Partnership Tour in Nebraska, is expected to drive investment, technology transfer, skills development and infrastructure expansion across Ghana’s livestock value chain.
The partnership brings together the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), EcoSyntra LLC, the Ghana-Nebraska Agribusiness Growth and Trade Relations Chamber (GNEBCham) and the Agrihouse Foundation under a framework focused on modernising livestock production, strengthening food security and promoting sustainable agribusiness growth.
The signing followed a week-long tour by a 23-member Ghanaian delegation, which engaged livestock producers, researchers, universities and agribusiness leaders across Nebraska to explore solutions that could help address Ghana’s livestock challenges.
At the heart of the agreement is a shared commitment to tackle some of the structural constraints that have limited the growth of Ghana’s livestock industry for decades, including low productivity, inadequate processing facilities, limited technical expertise and insufficient feed and grazing infrastructure.
To address these challenges, the partners have identified a number of flagship projects that will serve as catalysts for change within the sector.
Among them is the planned modernisation of the Tulaku Cattle Market at Ashaiman, one of the country’s largest livestock trading centres. The project is expected to improve livestock handling, enhance sanitary conditions and create a more efficient marketplace for traders and producers.
The partnership will also support the development of the proposed Amrahia Dairy Processing Centre, a project expected to boost local milk production and processing capacity at a time when imported dairy products account for about 95 per cent of Ghana’s dairy consumption.
In addition, the agreement will introduce livestock traceability systems to improve animal health monitoring, disease control and food safety standards while enhancing market access for livestock producers.
Demonstration dairy farms and technical training hubs will be established to expose farmers, veterinarians and agribusiness operators to modern livestock management practices, helping to increase productivity and improve the quality of livestock products.
The collaboration will further promote investment in feed production and grazing infrastructure to address one of the biggest constraints facing livestock farmers and improve the resilience of the sector against climate-related challenges.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku described the agreement as a major step towards building a more competitive and self-sufficient livestock industry.
“This livestock modernisation partnership programme is more than an exchange of knowledge. It is a partnership between two regions determined to advance livestock development,” he said.
“Together, Ghana and Nebraska can demonstrate how international cooperation strengthens food security, empowers agribusinesses and builds resilient agricultural systems.”
Mr Opoku noted that Ghana currently spends nearly $100 million annually on live animal and frozen meat imports, underscoring the need to strengthen domestic production.
He said the agreement was the result of years of collaboration among policymakers, universities, researchers, livestock producers and agribusiness organisations in both Ghana and Nebraska.
Co-Founder of GNEBCham and Founder of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, said the partnership reflected a long-standing commitment by stakeholders on both sides to build a sustainable livestock industry.
“This agreement reflects the depth of trust, shared purpose and long-term commitment that has been built between our teams and institutions,” she said.
Stakeholders believe the partnership could help reshape Ghana’s livestock sector over the next decade by increasing local production, creating jobs, attracting investment and improving food security while reducing the country’s reliance on imports.
