February 10, 2023

Ghana denies signing agreement to import US pork

Ghana's Ministry of Food and Agriculture has denied signing an agreement to import a large quantity of US pork, GhanaWeb reported.

The statement from the ministry comes after several stakeholders in Ghana's swine industry threatened legal action if the ministry did not disclose information about an alleged agreement to import more US pork.

The statement said Ghana's Veterinary Services Directorate received a request for Certification for Meat and Poultry Wholesomeness intended for export to Ghana from Dr Charmaine McJee, a veterinary medical officer in Washington state, US, which was granted after laboratory analysis of samples.

The Veterinary Services Directorate is required to provide the requested services professionally and in accordance with the ethics of the Organization for World Animal Health.

The ministry said the Veterinary Services Directorate's legal mandate had been misinterpreted.

The ministry assured the public that it had taken no action to allow the unrestricted importation of pork into the Ghanaian market.

-      GhanaWeb