<<Print>>

Prices of livestock have been increased considerably in Accra, the country�s capital. Alhaji Issaka Musa, Secretary of the Avenor Sheep & Goat Sellers Association, in an interview with CITY & BUSINESS GUIDE, expressed grave concern about the development. While an extra-large sheep is selling at GH�700 instead of GH�550 previously, the medium type is also going for GH�550 instead of between GH�280 and GH�300. The small type is now selling at GH�350 instead of between GH�180 and GH�200 previously. He stressed that an extra-large goat is going for GH�500 instead of GH�280, noting that the medium size is selling at GH�350 instead of GH�200. With the small size, the price ranges from GH�180 to GH�200 instead of between GH�120 and GH�140 in the past. Attributing the high cost of livestock to the recent fuel price increases, Mr Musa noted: �We buy all the big sizes from Niger and Mali and so you can imagine the amount of money we spend on transportation alone. �We are made to pay cross-border duty in those countries before they are allowed to transport the animals to the country. �Veterinary processes are done to ensure that the livestock are fit for human consumption before bringing them to the south to sell. It is not easy to transport sheep or goats to the south, we undergo a lot of processes before reaching the market.� The situation, he stated, is adversely affecting their business since most people struggle to buy sheep at GH�700. �It is not our fault though,� he added. Musa revealed that some of the livestock are also purchased from Bawku, Bolgatanga and other places in the country. He said �at times we feed a goat or sheep for between three weeks and one month before we will find a buyer for it.� Mr Musa also noted that the appreciation of the CFA against the cedi is a contributory factor since they mostly use that currency. Thieves, he mentioned, often break into the market to steal the livestock due to the lack of adequate security. He however advised other operators to join the Goat and Sheep Sellers Association at Lapaz, Alajo and other places. CITY & BUSINESS GUIDE also visited the poultry sellers to find out about their prices. The price of a mature chicken ranged from GH�20 to GH�30 depending on the number of days that it had been fed. Also, a box of hard frozen chicken is selling at GH�53 instead of GH�48 previously, Brazil Soft frozen chicken is also going for between GH�41 and GH�43 instead of between GH�32 and GH�38. A kilo of chicken is going for between GH�4.40 and GH�5.50 instead of GH�3.20 and GH�3.80 previously.