Opportunities within the meat supply chain in Africa—The case of beef production in Northern Ghana

Developing food supply chains in the African agriculture could be one of the keys for higher value-added activities and for the fair income of the stakeholders along the chains. Our research aims to investigate how these agricultural value chains are working in Northern Ghana and how to develop them. To estimate meat demand in the Tamale Metropolis, we carried out a large-scale survey with more than 300 interviews. Furthermore, we also measured the awareness of processed meat products. Based on the results, our conclusions are as follows: Development of public services offers the opportunity to (1) gaining market power for ourselves while losing market power for others, (2) indirect takeover of control on political and civil societies while losing control for others, (3) to win allies and friends on one hand, potentially losing allies and friends on the other. After spatial analyses of grazing areas, animal markets, trading routes and witnessing the descriptions of basic macroeconomic differences within Ghana; we must conclude that live animal trade is south-orientated, where traders are able to bargain higher prices. Due to northern locational advantages, the price of animals could be reduced. The presumably cheaper workforce and dozens of unemployed young males could also alleviate the financial burdens.