Ghana launches digital tool to boost animal health surveillance

GHANA – The government of Ghana is taking a major leap forward in modernising its livestock sector with the launch of a digital tool to monitor and manage animal health more efficiently. 

On September 26, Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku officially introduced the Events Mobile Application Plus (EMA-i+), a mobile app developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to strengthen animal disease surveillance across the country.

The initiative marks a significant milestone in the digitalisation of Ghana’s livestock industry, which contributes about 13% to the country’s agricultural GDP. 

The government hopes the platform will enhance the early detection and control of animal diseases such as rabies, anthrax, and avian influenza, improving both public health and livestock productivity.

From pilot to nationwide rollout

Originally launched in 2018 as a pilot project, EMA-i+ has now been scaled up nationwide following promising results. The app enables veterinarians and field officers to record and transmit disease outbreak data in real time, ensuring faster responses and better coordination among institutions.

According to Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku, the digitalisation of Ghana’s surveillance systems has already yielded tangible benefits. “The digitalisation of surveillance systems has tripled the number of reports since its pilot in 2018,” he noted during the launch event.

The enhanced app now extends its coverage beyond terrestrial animals, encompassing aquatic species, bees, and wildlife. By integrating these sectors, Ghana aims to adopt a more comprehensive approach to managing animal health.

FAO’s acting representative in Ghana, Priya Gujadhur, highlighted how the tool has transformed information flow. 

“EMA-i+ has reduced the time taken to transmit information from two to three months with the paper system to about 30 minutes today,” she said. The result, she added, is a more agile and data-driven response to outbreaks.

Building a nascent digital ecosystem

The nationwide rollout also spotlights Ghana’s growing but still limited use of digital tools in animal health management. The private sector’s involvement remains minimal, with few players contributing to innovation in this space.

One notable exception is Cowtribe, a startup founded in 2016 that delivers veterinary vaccines to rural livestock farmers through mobile technology.

Using USSD and SMS platforms, Cowtribe connects farmers, often far from conventional veterinary services, to vital vaccines and treatments, helping reduce animal mortality and prevent disease outbreaks.

However, Cowtribe remains one of the few examples of a digital-first approach to animal health in Ghana. Experts say expanding this ecosystem is crucial to making veterinary services more accessible in rural communities, where the burden of transboundary animal diseases is highest. 

According to the Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (IBAR), such diseases cost sub-Saharan Africa about US$4 billion annually, representing nearly a quarter of the continent’s animal production value.

Bridging the digital divide

Despite the promise of tools like EMA-i+, challenges persist, chief among them, Ghana’s uneven internet access. While the country counted 24.3 million internet users in early 2025, representing a 69.9% penetration rate, rural connectivity lags behind. 

In 2021, about 80% of urban youth aged 15–29 were online, compared to only 54% in rural areas, a disparity driven by poor infrastructure and patchy coverage.

Without addressing these gaps, experts warn that the benefits of digital transformation in animal health may not reach the small-scale farmers who need them most. 

Still, the launch of EMA-i+ signals a strong governmental commitment to harnessing technology for the livestock sector, a move that could set Ghana apart as a regional leader in digital agriculture.

As Minister Opoku put it, “Digitalisation is not just an innovation; it is a necessity for safeguarding our national herd and ensuring the resilience of our livestock systems.”

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