Accra: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Tuesday inaugurated the second phase of the Livestock Marketing Support Programme (PACBAO) aimed at enhancing the livestock market value chain across West Africa. This initiative seeks to promote healthy livestock and meat within the ECOWAS region by raising the value of pastoral farming, integrating farmers into value chains, and meeting regional meat demands.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Eric Opoku, Ghana's Minister of Food and Agriculture, emphasized the significance of livestock, which accounts for approximately 14 percent of the agricultural GDP. He highlighted its critical role in ensuring food security, generating income, and providing employment. Mr. Opoku noted that Ghana still relies on importing a significant share of its meat and livestock to meet domestic demand, pointing to a persistent shortfall in domestic meat and milk production. The Livestock Marketing Support Programme aims to modernize production systems, improve post-harvest management, and leverage public-private investments to unlock the sector's full potential.
Mr. Opoku expressed that Ghana's contribution to the successful implementation of phase one of the programme strengthened the livestock value chain. He stressed that phase two should build on these achievements with interventions to transform the meat and livestock sector across the region.
Ms. Janine Walz, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, noted that livestock is more than just an economic sector as it provides nutrition, resilience, and income for millions of families. She identified challenges such as limited market access, obstacles to cross-border trade, weak sanitary standards, and insufficient opportunities for youth and women. The programme aims to professionalize actors in the value chain, support innovation, and generate more opportunities for the youth and women to thrive. She urged ECOWAS to accelerate the implementation to ensure the results reach those who need them most.
Mr. Mohammed Lawan Gana, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana, stated that the first phase of the programme, implemented from July 2018 to June 2023, generated in-depth knowledge, innovations, and best practices. He emphasized that livestock farming significantly contributes to the GDP of Sahelian countries and is a major provider of jobs, employing up to 50 percent of the population. Mr. Gana asserted that the programme would ensure the development of an organized and stable market to attract more private investment and reiterated ECOWAS' commitment to implementing its regional integration policies and programmes.
