Upgrade Kumasi Abattoir – Regional Chief Butcher

By King AMOAH

The Ashanti Regional Chief Butcher, Ibrahim Wahab Tikuma, is advocating for a major upgrade of the Kumasi Abattoir to international standards, arguing it’s a crucial step towards boosting Ghana’s economy, creating jobs, and capitalizing on the government’s 24-hour economy initiative.

“The Kumasi Abattoir has been here since independence, it’s been here for a long time. It’s still a viable facility, but it needs a significant upgrade to compete internationally and fully benefit the country.”

Chief Tikuma highlighted the historical significance of Abattoir, established in 1957 by Ghana’s first President and Prime Minister, Dr. Francis Kwame Nkrumah.

He noted that the facility, a testament to its long-term viability, has seen some improvements over the decades, including efforts by late President Jerry John Rawlings. However, he stresses that a significant upgrade is now essential to unlock its full economic potential.

According to Mr. Tikuma, his outfit presented a draft proposal to the newly elected President, John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party in 2024, urging them to incorporate their vision into their manifesto.

He emphasized that the meat industry is a significant source of income for economic development thus he is hopeful of the upgrade since the NDC has won the recently concluded elections.

Mr. Tikuma revealed that Ghana generated $6 million in profit from cattle intestines alone in 2023/2024 while adding that Australia, despite having similar resources to Ghana, generates a staggering $50 billion annually through meat production, attributing this success to the prioritization of their meat industry. He believes a modernized Kumasi Abattoir could help Ghana significantly bridge that gap.

Mr. Tikuma stressed the need to address the significant challenges faced by butchers across the country. He explained that the fluctuating strength of the Ghanaian cedi, compared to foreign currencies like the US dollar and the CFA franc, makes importing cattle from neighboring countries like Mali and Burkina Faso extremely costly.

“We are suffering and running at a loss because we have to convert large sums of cedis into foreign currency to import cattle ,” he lamented.

He suggested proactive measures which includes, calling on the government to engage with the governments of Burkina Faso and Mali to potentially negotiate for reduced cattle prices and subsidies on imported cattle for Ghanaian butchers.

These interventions, he argued, would not only alleviate the immediate financial burden on butchers but also strengthen bilateral relationships and boost Ghana’s economy.

Chief Tikuma believes that a modernized abattoir is essential to the success of the government’s 24-hour economy initiative. He stated that with an upgraded facility, the meat industry could become a crucial component of a round-the-clock economic cycle, providing jobs and generating substantial revenue.

He argued that upgrading the Kumasi Abattoir is not just about enhancing meat production; it’s about creating a comprehensive ecosystem that supports job creation, reduces urban migration by offering rural opportunities, builds strong international trade relationships, and contributes significantly to Ghana’s financial growth.

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