The West Africa Centre for Agribusiness and Apiculture Development (WACAAD), with funding support from the European Union, has organised the inaugural Ghana Forum for Beekeeping and Biodiversity Initiative (GhaFBBI) – the country’s first national conference dedicated to advancing the growth of Ghana’s apiculture sector.
The pioneering initiative aims to establish a credible, enforceable quality and safety framework for Ghana’s honey industry, strengthening traceability, improving production standards and positioning Ghana’s honey for international markets.
The GhaFBBI programme included the official inauguration of “Ghana HiveHoney”, the country’s first beekeeping-sector Collective Mark. As a nationally recognised symbol of safe, traceable and sustainably produced honey, the Collective Mark is expected to support the development of export-ready value chains, promote industry-wide standards and codes of practice, and prepare as well as enhance the competitiveness of Ghana’s honey in regional and international markets.
“Even if we are already the largest export market in the world, the European Union is committed to expanding trade with Ghana. Through this collaboration, we are supporting traceability and sustainability efforts that help Ghanaian products, including honey, meet EU market requirements. This opens new export opportunities, creates jobs, and strengthens the private sector,” stated EU Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Mr. Rune Skinnebach.
“This initiative is a giant stride in our ambition to place verifiably safe, traceable Ghanaian honey on shelves at home and abroad. Together with the EU and our partners, WACAAD is building a sector defined by integrity, sustainability and opportunities,” added Dr John Kojo Ahiakpa, Chief Executive Officer of the West Africa Centre for Agribusiness and Apiculture.
The GhaFBBI programme is organised in collaboration with key government institutions including the Ghana Standards Authority, the Food and Drugs |, Authority, the Veterinary Services Directorate, the Animal Production Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and the Forestry Commission.
