Livestock and food commodities continue to dominate Ghana’s informal cross-border imports, accounting for nearly half of all unrecorded trade during the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
The report, which forms part of Ghana’s first national assessment of informal cross-border trade (ICBT), shows that livestock imports, mainly cattle, sheep, and goats were valued at GH¢305.6 million, almost double the export value of GH¢177 million recorded for the same period.
The data reveal that these informal transactions play a vital role in feeding Ghana’s population, stabilizing prices, and sustaining border economies, particularly in the northern and middle belts.
The report notes that livestock movement across Ghana’s borders, especially with Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire remains a central pillar of informal commerce.
Unrecorded cattle and small ruminant imports form part of the country’s daily food supply, meeting demand in markets across Tamale, Techiman, Kumasi, and Accra.
“Informal livestock trade is not a marginal activity; it’s the backbone of meat supply in northern Ghana,” said Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, Government Statistician, during the report’s launch in Accra.
“Without these flows, urban food prices would be far less stable, and rural livelihoods would be severely impacted.”
Livestock imported informally often bypass formal border checks due to limited veterinary services, poor infrastructure, and long-standing community trading traditions that predate modern customs systems.
The trade, though unregulated, supports thousands of herders, middlemen, and transporters along the Ghana-Burkina Faso corridor.
Beyond livestock, food commodities dominated the informal trade landscape. The GSS report reveals that food products accounted for 49.5 percent of informal imports and 41 percent of informal exports during the quarter.
These findings point to a consistent pattern where consumer goods and staple foods dominate informal exchanges. The affordability and availability of such goods in informal markets make them essential to Ghana’s food security.
However, these flows also represent lost tax revenue and data gaps in Ghana’s national accounts.
The report outlines several barriers facing informal food and livestock traders.
These include inadequate border infrastructure, lack of veterinary inspection facilities, poor road access, and limited access to credit. Many traders operate on trust-based systems, exposing them to price manipulation and cross-border insecurity.
“If we formalize livestock and food flows, Ghana can link small herders and farmers to structured value chains, from abattoirs to packaging industries,” the statistician said. “That’s inclusive growth in action.”
