Government has announced a major programme to rehabilitate Ghana’s national livestock breeding stations and restock them with small ruminants, aiming to boost their capacity utilisation from below 15% to at least 50%.
The initiative, captured in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s (MoFA) 2025–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), is part of a broader plan to revitalise the livestock sub-sector and reduce reliance on imports.
MoFA currently oversees seven national breeding stations, each focusing on different livestock species. These include the Nungua Livestock Breeding Station (pigs and rabbits), Babile (Ashanti Black pigs), Ejura (sheep), Kintampo (West African dwarf goats), Pong Tamale (sheep, goats, pigs, cattle), Nkwanta (sheep and goats), and the Amrahia Dairy Farm (dairy cattle).
Despite their importance, these facilities have suffered decades of underinvestment, a concern long raised by stakeholders and farmer associations.
While they continue to supply improved breeding stock and extension services, the neglect has weakened output and deepened Ghana’s dependence on foreign livestock.
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) reports that Ghana imported US$17.7 million worth of livestock in 2023, with cattle, goats, and sheep accounting for 70%, sourced mainly from Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria.
PFAG has repeatedly cautioned that although livestock plays a vital role in national food security, the sub-sector remains starved of policy attention and investment.
Beyond imports, Ghana’s livestock industry faces structural hurdles: disease outbreaks, inadequate veterinary services, theft, poor housing and infrastructure, and shortages of quality feed and grazing land.
Marketing bottlenecks and limited financing also hinder growth. The poultry industry illustrates the challenge harshly, just 5% of poultry consumed locally is produced in Ghana, with 95% imported.
Climate change compounds these issues, as erratic weather, extreme heat, and shifting ecosystems strain livestock health and productivity.
However, experts warn that if left unaddressed, these risks could further endanger farmer livelihoods and amplify the sector’s environmental burden.
By revamping breeding stations and raising their operational capacity, government hopes to build a stronger, more resilient livestock industry, enhance productivity, and improve food security for the country.
