Fada N'Gourma to establish livestock market in Tamale

Tamale, Dec. 28, GNA - The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly and its sister city, Fada N' Gourma in Burkina Faso have begun discussions on the possibility of establishing a vibrant livestock market in Tamale to boost their economies.

Land has been acquired to establish a kraal for the smooth implementation of the project.

Fada N'Gourma, which has one of the largest and well-organised livestock markets in West Africa, was considering opening an outlet in Tamale to improve on meat supply in Ghana as well as the establishment of a dairy and shoe factory.

Mr Mohammed Amin Adam, Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, announced these at a meeting with Chairmen of Sub-Committees of the assembly and Heads of Government Departments and their Burkinabe counterparts in Tamale on Wednesday.

A 12-man Burkinabe delegation headed by Mr Kocty Moumouni, Mayor of Fada N'Gourma Province is on a four-day visit to Tamale to strengthen the sister city relationship established between them three years ago.

Mr Adam said the assembly was interested in understudying the livestock production technique of Burkina Faso to improve local production and the possibility of processing animal feeds for export to Burkina Faso in exchange for livestock.

Mr Adam said other areas of cooperation were irrigation systems and water harvesting technologies from Burkina Faso to enhance the livelihood of the people especially during the dry season. He announced that authorities of the two cities were considering exchange programmes of teachers at the basic level and regular visits by agricultural extension officers.

Mr Moumouni said Burkina Faso would benefit from the agricultural and waste management equipment from Ghana; especially donkey carts, ploughs, tricycles and plastic containers.

He suggested the hosting of a joint trade fair between them to showcase their technologies for the benefit of their people. Mr Moumouni said Burkina Faso was interested in studying Ghana's experience in the manufacturing of handicrafts as well as the preservation and processing of perishable vegetables such as tomato and mangoes. He expressed his country's gratitude to Ghanaian women traders who had been travelling to Fada N'Gourma to purchase tomatoes and other vegetables.