Challenges in the Butchery Industry: Potential Opportunities for Business in Ghana

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the working environment of butchers and identify potential business opportunities. Sensitization meetings, focus group discussions and semi-structured questionnaires were used to gather information from butchers in 8 markets in Accra. It was realized that butchery is a male and largely Muslim-dominated business. A little over 70% of respondents had some form of education, with 49.1% having basic level education. A number of issues were of concern to the butchers, with the most important being the use of the CFA francs for business transaction and the siting of slaughter facilities with over 85% of respondents indicating these as their utmost concerns. The potential business opportunities uncovered by the study included innovative meat transportation and storage, the huge opportunity for increased local production of animals, and the establishment of a butchery school, or a butchery module in one of the tertiary institutions or research centers.