Ghana signs 10-year livestock modernisation partnership with Nebraska

GHANA – Ghana has signed a 10-year cooperation agreement with the U.S. state of Nebraska to modernise its livestock industry, expand feed production infrastructure, and reduce the country’s heavy reliance on imported meat and dairy products.

The Ghana–Nebraska Cooperation Agreement was formalised during the Ghana-Nebraska Spring Livestock Modernisation Partnership Tour in Nebraska. 

The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration across livestock production, dairy development, feed systems, agricultural infrastructure, veterinary services, workforce training, academic exchange, climate-resilient agriculture, and agribusiness investment.

For Ghana’s livestock and feed industries, the partnership comes at a critical time. 

The country imports nearly US$100 million worth of live animals and frozen meat annually, while dairy imports account for approximately 95% of domestic consumption.

A major focus of the agreement is the development of feed infrastructure to support more productive and commercially viable livestock systems. 

Nebraska, one of the leading livestock-producing states in the United States, has been selected for its expertise in animal nutrition, feed manufacturing, genetics, veterinary science, and agricultural research.

Priority projects identified under the partnership include the modernisation of the Tulaku Cattle Market, development of the proposed Amrahia Dairy Processing Centre, introduction of livestock traceability systems, and investments in feed production and supply chains.

“Together, Ghana and Nebraska can demonstrate how international cooperation strengthens food security,” Opoku said.

The deal was signed by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), EcoSyntra LLC, the Ghana-Nebraska Agribusiness Growth and Trade Relations Chamber (GNEBCham), and the Agrihouse Foundation.

Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku led a 23-member delegation that included representatives from Exim Bank Ghana, Fidelity Bank Ghana, the Ghana National Livestock Breeders and Traders Association, and the University of Ghana.

Feed and dairy development central to reducing import dependence

The agreement supports Ghana’s broader Feed Ghana Programme, which seeks to increase domestic agricultural production and improve food security.

Industry stakeholders view improved feed availability and quality as essential to raising livestock productivity, reducing production costs, and supporting the growth of the country’s dairy and meat sectors.

The partnership is also expected to facilitate knowledge transfer, technical training, and investment opportunities linking Ghanaian agribusinesses with Nebraska’s livestock and feed industries.

Beyond meeting domestic demand, the initiative is expected to position Ghana as a regional livestock and agribusiness hub serving the wider African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market, valued at an estimated US$3.4 trillion.

If successfully implemented, the collaboration could help strengthen local meat and milk production, reduce import bills, create employment opportunities, and accelerate the modernisation of Ghana’s livestock value chains over the next decade.

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