Importation of Intestines: Cattle rearers can meet local consumption demand if properly regulated

The debate on whether to ban the importation of offal or not remains inconclusive as the Minority in Parliament has caused the suspension of a legislative instrument presented by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Whilst a section of the public is supporting the ban, others argue that local livestock rearers are unable to meet the consumption demand.

But the Fulani community in Ghana, whose members are mostly herdsmen, believes investing and streamlining cattle rearing in the country will cut down, if not end the importation of not only offal but meat in general.

The persistent clash between herdsmen and crop farmers has for decades caused the loss of lives and livelihoods.

In an attempt to drive away the nomads and their cattle, hundreds of animals have been shot and killed by the security agencies.

This has not only ruined cattle owners’ livelihood but discouraged many individuals from investing into the cattle rearing business.

Ghana now imports meat and animal intestine at a cost of $164 million annually, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard we import animal intestines. Like seriously? Of all the things we bring into this country, we spend millions of dollars for something we can easily get it here. I support the government to ban the importation, ” a consumer, Enoch Agyemang said.

A move by the government to restrict the importation of intestines and 21 other products including poultry, rice, sugar, and diapers among others was resisted by the Minority members of Parliament until it was suspended by government.

The L.I. (Import Restriction Bill) sought to compel importers of the restricted items to secure licences from a committee to be set up by the Trade Minister.

But the Minority in Parliament argued that it was not only dangerous but violated international trade practices and could give too much powers to the Minister, a situation which has the propensity to breed corruption.

Leadership of the herdsmen in Ghana say the country can attain self-sufficiency in meat production if cattle rearing is regulated.

“I’m hearing in the media that we are banning the importation of animal intestines. If we can regulate cattle rearing, we don’t need to even import meat talk less of tripe. We are importing this because we have neglected a certain profession, which is cattle rearing”, General Secretary of the Fulani Community in Ghana, Alhaji Yakubu Musah Barry pointed out.

For now, meeting the local consumption demand may serve as a panacea to the importation of offal in Ghana and that can be achieved through conscious investment in the livestock sector.