The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Eric Opoku, has announced plans to improve security, sanitation, and economic value at the Ashaiman Livestock Market.
He said this during a working visit to the Ashaiman Livestock market, the largest livestock trading hub in West Africa, as part of the Government’s commitment to implementing the Livestock Development Project (LAP).
Mr Opoku said feasibility studies for the project had been completed, while design works were currently underway, marking significant progress towards its implementation.
The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to developing the Ashaiman Livestock Market, describing it as a strategic asset in the livestock value chain that employs more than 80,000 people.
He assured traders that the Ministry would work closely with the leadership of the Livestock Traders Association in all decisions affecting the market to ensure that interventions achieved maximum impact, in line with the campaign pledge by President John Dramani Mahama to develop the market.
To enhance security, Mr Opoku announced the provision of 50 streetlights to improve nighttime visibility.
He also commended the Inspector-General of Police for establishing security posts within the market to protect traders, transporters and buyers who operate around the clock.
On sanitation, the Minister said a tricycle would be supplied to support routine cleaning, while the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly would receive a GHS30,000 support package to hire equipment for immediate desilting and cleaning of the market yard.
He added that discussions were ongoing for the procurement of a payloader to provide a long-term solution to waste management challenges.
Mr Opoku also disclosed that the government was engaging fertiliser manufacturers to explore the use of cow dung generated at the market as raw material for fertiliser production.
He said the initiative would help address sanitation challenges while creating additional economic value from livestock waste.
The Minister stressed that stakeholder consultation remained critical to the success of the planned interventions.
The visit reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to improving infrastructure, sanitation, security, and stakeholder collaboration to enhance the operations and long-term sustainability of the Ashaiman Livestock Market.
Judith Twumwaa, ISD
