An ECOWAS regional forum to develop a framework for regulating meat importation and livestock transportation across West African borders is underway in Accra.
ECOWAS has unveiled the second phase of its flagship PACBAO programme to regulate meat imports and streamline livestock movement across West Africa.
The initiative aims to boost animal production, strengthen food security, and modernize regional trade systems.
The PACBAO programme, launched by ECOWAS in 2018, was designed to modernize the livestock and red meat trade across West Africa.
The first phase ran until 2023, improving animal health systems, market structures, and cross-border trade practices.
The rollout of the second phase in Accra brought together about sixty high-profile participants, including representatives from ECOWAS Member States, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Mauritania, alongside regional organizations, cooperatives, private sector players, and farmers’ associations.
Phase two, backed by 8 million Swiss francs (about $10 million) from the Swiss Development Cooperation, representing 53% of the total budget, will run from December 2024 to October 2028.
It is expected to consolidate gains made under the first phase and strengthen policies that support regional self-sufficiency in meat production.
Ghana’s Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, highlighted the region’s over-reliance on meat imports despite its vast resources, saying this phase would focus on coordinated policies, animal tracking systems, and disease control to ease livestock movement.
“Unfortunately, the sector is underdeveloped and as a result of that we depend on importation of meat to supplement local production. The expenditure that is incurred on the importation of meat creates employment in other countries for the youth in those areas. We want to reverse the situation, and we can do that by integrating our efforts.
So, this is to consolidate the gains made under this one and also improve upon that so that individual countries in West Africa will be able to produce enough meat to feed their people and then win ourselves off completely from meat importation,” he said.
Speaking to the media, ECOWAS Resident Representative to Ghana, Ambassador Mohammed Lawan Gana, said the programme is critical for creating jobs, especially for young people, and for advancing livestock and animal feed production in the region. He added that, despite security and environmental challenges, ECOWAS remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote regional trade integration.
“Agriculture policy is transcended throughout the region, throughout West Africa. So and we know the potential that we have in West Africa in terms of livestock about and the potential for Employment Opportunity for our young people. So that is why equals and in this transition is transitioning from across of state to equals of people.” he added.
The first phase of PACBAO, launched in 2018 and completed in 2023, improved animal health systems and market structures across West Africa.
Stakeholders expect the second phase to build on this momentum, reducing meat imports and creating a more sustainable and profitable livestock sector.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/ Matilda Sena Azatoh
