IGAD Centre for pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD) in partnership with FAO, with financial support from Italian International Cooperation is implementing the regional project; “Improving supply of safe and quality livestock and meat exported from the Horn of Africa to Middle East and North African (MENA) countries”. One of the activity of the above project is to organize a trade mission for meat exporters and regulatory bodies from IGAD exporting countries to other meat deficient regions such as West Africa.

The objectives of the mission were to facilitate interaction of regulatory bodies and private sectors of the IGAD countries with Ghana counterparts, collect  data and  lessons that will be shared to more meat exporters and stakeholders and enable the exporting countries to implement and start business ; promote and enhance inter-African livestock trade . After the discussion with Ghana regulatory bodies and importers and visit to markets, the following recommendations were made for actions;

• ICPALD will share Self Declaration Document (SDD) received from Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) Ghana to CVO of member states (MS) and exporters
• The delegation team will share the mission report and other information to their respective authorities for further action
• The private sector representatives will also share the information with their members
• CVOs of MS to fill the SDD document, submit to the CVO Ghana ; follow up and provide feedback to the private sectors interested in the trading of meat to Ghana.

ICPALD expresses appreciation to Italian Development Cooperation for financing this event through the IGAD /FAO implemented livestock and meat project.