Livestock Development in Ghana: Policies and Strategies.

The Livestock Development in Ghana, Policies and Strategies (PS) is a national sectoral law to guide livestock development in Ghana. It was developed by the Ministry of Food and Agricore of Ghana in 2004 with goals to be reached by 2015. The PS will seek a well-developed, modernized, efficient and profitable livestock industry capable of responding to all the livestock needs of the nation in a sustainable manner and in consonance with supporting human livelihoods to ensure poverty reduction and national economic growth. In particular, the PS will seek to increase the supply of meat, animal and dairy products from domestic production; and to contribute to the reduction of the incidence of poverty among food farmers, who are also livestock keepers.
The PS addresses food security and nutritional adequacy for the population among its goals. It highlights the importance of the role livestock play for food security. Thus, the PS will seek to develop the livestock sector in order to contribute to the country’s effort to eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.
As noted above, the PS focuses on making the livestock sector more productive and sustainable. The PS will guide the government in implementing activities related to capacity of livestock keepers; livestock acquisition (stocking and restocking); livestock breeding material; livestock health; livestock markets and marketing; meat and milk processing; livestock slaughter and facilities; livestock transportation; technical know-how and production efficiency; profitability of commercial livestock enterprises; theft of livestock; livestock production and healthcare services; veterinary public health; livestock extension services; financial services for livestock enterprises; livestock research and appropriate technology development; livestock inputs (feed, water, drugs and equipment); livestock industry regulatory services; livestock statistics; institutional capacity; research and extension linkages; environmental effects; and implementation of livestock development plans.
The PS highlights the importance of the role livestock play in rural poverty reduction. Thus, the PS will seek to develop the livestock sector in order to contribute to the country’s effort to reduce rural poverty.
The PS seeks to make the livestock sector more inclusive and efficient by providing incentives for community participation; enhancing group formation of livestock keepers; introducing in-kind livestock credit schemes; educating livestock keepers on hygiene and proper management of livestock; increasing the number of physical market places for cattle, particularly in the urban centres; developing appropriate infrastructure in cattle markets and providing scales; and breaking the monopoly in the cattle markets for competitive marketing where cattle owners negotiate their prices.
The PS provides a detailed matrix indicating the public and private stakeholders responsible for its implementation. It provides the policies, strategies and responsibilities of implementation for each listed public and private stakeholder.