The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, has paid a historic working visit to the Ashaiman Tulaku Livestock Market, recognized as the largest livestock trading centre in West Africa.
The visit is the first by a sector minister to the market since it was established in the 1960s, a milestone that traders and market leaders say signals renewed government attention to the livestock sector.
The Ashaiman Tulaku Livestock Market is a key sub regional trading hub, receiving cattle and other livestock from countries including Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, and Niger. Operating around the clock, the market plays a major role in food security, job creation, and the supply of animal protein across Ghana.
During the tour, Hon. Opoku acknowledged the market’s strategic importance to the national food system and local economy. He said strengthening the livestock value chain remains a priority and stressed the need to promote safe and healthy meat processing.
The Minister recalled a campaign visit to the market by President John Dramani Mahama in 2020, during which redevelopment was promised. He assured traders that efforts are still on course to improve infrastructure and working conditions at the facility.
As part of immediate support measures, Hon. Opoku announced the provision of 50 streetlight bulbs to improve visibility and safety for night operations. He also donated GH₵30,000 to support the hiring of a payloader to clear accumulated waste, adding that government plans to procure a dedicated payloader for the market in the future.
He further directed a technical team from the Ministry to assess how cow dung generated at the market can be processed into organic fertilizer, in line with environmental sustainability and value addition goals.
The Minister encouraged continuous engagement between the Ministry and the Ashaiman Tulaku Livestock Traders Association and urged traders to cooperate with the Kpone Katamanso Municipal Assembly to ensure ongoing redevelopment works proceed without disruption.
Leaders of the traders association described the visit as historic and expressed confidence that it will lead to lasting improvements in the market’s operations and infrastructure.