The National Vice President of the Meat Sellers And Cutters Association of Ghana, Alhaji Ibrahim Wahab Tikuma on behalf of the Association has made a special appeal to the government to put measures in place to avoid the collapse of the meat industry in the country.
Speaking to the Opera News Content Writer King Amoah in an interview in Kumasi the Vice President of the Association hinted that the meat industry is on the verge of collapse.
He linked the reasons to among others, the depreciation of the cedi, insisting that the Ghanaian cedi is currently the worst currency when it is used to transact international business.
Alhaji Wahab asserted that his outfit as a meat producers, members fall on the dollar and CFA currencies before they could import cattle from Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso to Ghana for sale.
He said since January to November this year the Association have experienced over 100 percent increase in meat purchases from the neighborhood countries due to lack of cedi stabilization.
He cited that at present a butcher have to dish out a significant amount of GHS 22,000 (about ¢220 million old currency) before he can exchange it to get CFA1million.
He added that a cow is now also sold at GHS10,000 (¢100 million old currency).
Stressing that until government strategize measures to halt the depreciation of the cedi to ensure its stability, the collapse of the meat industry cannot be ruled out in the country.
Because butchers cannot be in a position to raise funds to run their businesses whilst they operate without profits.
The Vice President of the Association reiterated that due to the unstable conditions of both dollar and CFA many butchers have fallen into huge debts and have lost interest to remain in business.
He said it is against this background that hence the sector Minister needs to take a second look into the industry and find solutions to the challenges confronting the meat operators.
Alhaji Ibrahim Wahab Tikuma hinted that in last year alone Ghana allegedly imported $ 450 million worth of meat into the country.
He said such meat can be hygienically produced in the country to help generate funds into government coffers should the meat industry is well equipped and managed it appropriately.
Citing instances on how the meat industry have been playing roles to build a strong and stable economies in some countries, Alhaji Tikuma mentioned Australia, America, Brazil, Canada, Denmark and even Botswana and South Africa in the Africa continent as some of the States who have used meat production to build their economies.
He said in Ghana the country have the capacity to compete favorably with their foreign counterparts to build a strong nation through meat production.
If the opportunities are given to the experts by the government.
Having made his points he advised the butchers who have been given up their hopes to remain firm in the struggle to overcome the challenges confronting them.
Since it is through unity that they can see their way through.
Alhaji Ibrahim Wahab Tikuma was of the view that in order to ensure the survival of the meat industry to add value to the agricultural produce in the country, government will take action to stabilize the cedi for the benefit of not only the butchers.
But also the entire business communities in the country as a whole.
Present at the interview include Abdulai Salifu and Alhaji Gariba Daaga both Executive members of the Association respectively.
Content created and supplied by: Kingam (via Opera News )
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