Windhoek
Namibian High Commissioner to Ghana Charles Josob has encouraged local entrepreneurs to explore the potential of Ghana’s red meat market.
“Ghana currently has around 6 million goats, 3.4 million sheep and 1.65 million cattle. This shows that the country has a deficit in supplying red meat products to its population of 27 million people,” Josob told New Era from Accra via a telephond yesterday.
Josob, who also doubles as the chairperson of the SADC group of ambassadors in Ghana, says Namibian entrepreneurs should look to tap this potential market.
According to the 2012 figures of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Namibia’s cattle population is estimated to number around 2.4 million and the country is ranked 75th in the world in terms of cattle population.
High Commissioner Josob maintains that with Ghana’s population of some 27.67 million citizens and Ghana’s currency – the Cedi – at a ratio of almost 1:4 to the Namibian Dollar, Ghana’s red meat market is well worth investigating.
“Namibian products can fetch good prices. It is a market worth investigating,” he said, adding that the Cedi currency can go a long way in Namibia and that our hospitality establishments are relatively inexpensive for Ghanaian tourists.
“Marketing of these establishments in Ghana is essential and I invite our tour operators and establishment owners to market this niche in Ghana,” he added.
Asked what the major products and services traded between the two countries are, Josob said products they see on the Ghanaian market include canned fish (pickled and curry), canned beef, frozen hake and horse mackerel.
“Most of the activity between the two countries involves bilateral engagements in the training of Namibian and Ghanaian officials, as well as the exchange of information on best practices.
“I’m seeking to enhance both tourism and trade, as well as bilateral cooperation during my tour of duty,” he said, noting that Namibia and Ghana have an excellent and longstanding political relationship. Over the years, he said, both countries have contributed to the economic wellbeing of the other, but now much more bilateral cooperation is needed to strengthen the relationship in terms of trade and investment.
“It is very important to strengthen the relationship between our two countries and to initiate more trade and investment projects to boost our economies,” he said.