VISIT VETERINARY SERVICES WEBSITE

BRIEF HISTORY:

The first Veterinarian (Captain Beal) to arrive in the Gold Coast was posted in May 1909 at the request of the Colonial Government. The Veterinary Services was then a Unit of the Medical Department until 1920 when it was established as a Department with headquarters in Pong-Tamale. When the headquarters was established in Pong-Tamale two sections were created in 1931; the Veterinary Section which was responsible for disease control and the Livestock Section which dealt with improvement of indigenous livestock breeds.

VISION

The vision of the Veterinary Services Directorate is to create an animal health system which provides quality animal health services to enhance livestock production and productivity.

MISSION

The Mission of the Veterinary Services Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is to ensure a stable animal health situation through the provision of quality animal health care services by both public and private sector veterinary practitioners to enhance livestock, poultry and companion animals’ production and productivity.

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The Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) was established in 1965 as the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Ghana and currently derives its authority from the Plants and Fertilizer Act, 2010 (Act 803) and its regulations. The directorate is mandated to ensure effective conduct of plant protection, seeds and fertilizer quality assurance in support of sustainable agricultural development in Ghana.

 Mission

To protect Ghana’s plant resources and ensure safe agricultural trade by providing effective science-based phytosanitary regulatory services, promoting sustainable pest management, guaranteeing the quality of seed and fertilizer inputs and safeguarding human health and environment.

 Vision

To render efficient, environmentally sustainable and economically viable plant protection and regulatory services that respond to stakeholder needs and enhance food security, raw material production and sustainable agriculture.

 Goal

Contribute to significant reduction of crop losses through the effective management of plant pests and promote the adoption and utilization of certified seeds and fertilizers for sustainable agriculture and food security in Ghana.

 The Directorate is structured into four Divisions:

• Crop Pests and Disease Management Division (CPDMD)
• Ghana Seed Inspection Division (GSID)
• Pesticides and Fertilizer Regulatory Division (PFRD)
• Plant Quarantine Division (PQD)

Crop Pests  Management Division (CPDMD)

The Crop Pests  Management Division (CPDMD) derives its mandate from Part I of the “Plants and Fertilizer Act” Act 803 (2010) and works to safeguard crops through monitoring, training, advisory services, and coordinated response to pest outbreaks. The division develops Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and guidelines for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of food crops.

Key Services provided:

• Pest Surveillance
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Pest Identification and Diagnostic service (for fruits and vegetables exporters)
• Pest
• Biological Control of pests
• Training of extension service providers, farmers and other stakeholders in Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Global GAP certification, etc.

Ghana Seed Inspection Division (GSID)

The mandate of the Ghana Seed Inspection Division (GSID) is to provide seed quality assurance in the country. It derives its mandate from Part II of the Plants and Fertilizer Act, 2010 (Act 803).

GSID operates a National Seed Testing Laboratory (NSTL) located at Pokuase in the Greater Accra Region and maintains regional satellite laboratories in Tamale (Northern Region), Bolgatanga (Upper East Region), Wa (Upper West Region), Kumasi (Ashanti Region), Ho (Volta Region), and Winneba (Central Region). The laboratory serves as the official seed testing arm of Ghana’s seed industry and aspires to be a centre of excellence in seed testing.

 Our Mandate

Services Provided:

Field Registration and Inspection

Laboratory Testing

Seed Certification

• Registration of seed producers, seed dealers, and nursery operators.
• Seed testing and certification.
• Enforcement of regulations to ensure compliance with national and regional standards.
• Capacity building of stakeholder through training and awareness creation.
• Promote the production and use of high-quality, certified seeds to enhance agricultural productivity and food security in Ghana. 

Ghana Seed Inspection Division
(PPRSD – Ministry of Food and Agriculture)

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pesticide and Fertilizer Regulatory Division (PFRD)

The Pesticides and Fertilizer Regulatory Division (PFRD) is mandated under the Part III of Plants and Fertilizer, 2010 (Act 803) to regulate and oversee fertilizer production, importation, distribution, marketing, and utilization, publish fertilizer statistics and other information materials to ensure strict adherence to regulations governing the quality, safety, and agronomic efficacy of fertilizers.

The PFRD In discharging its statutory responsibilities plays a strategic role in safeguarding the integrity of the fertilizer value chain, mitigating risks associated with substandard and adulterated products, and promoting the judicious and efficient use of fertilizers. These efforts are central to advancing sustainable agricultural transformation, enhancing national productivity, and securing long-term food and nutrition security.

Key Services provided:

• Fertilizer products: Registration and certification/licensing, laboratory analysis, bio-efficacy trials, field trials performance verification
• Fertilizer dealers: Registration/Renewal of fertilizer licenses, inspection (product, facility), training regulatory inspectors and other stakeholders on pesticides and fertilizer management, facilitating of removal of obsolete and unwanted chemicals.
• Capacity Building: Training, awareness creation and technical backstopping on pesticides and fertilizer management., etc. 

• Importers: Sample, inspect, analyze and test fertilizers distributed in the country, issuance of fertilizer import permit, prepare appropriate manuals and reports of these.
• Inspection and Compliance monitoring at points of entry/exit
• Fertilizer Use Efficiency and Advisory Services
• Post-registration surveillance and market monitoring.

Plant Quarantine Division (PQD)

The mandate of the division is derived from Part I of Plants and Fertilizer Act 2010 (Act 803). The division regulates import and export of plants, plant products and regulated articles through issuance of import permits and phytosanitary certificates based on relevant International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) to safeguard the country’s agriculture from invasive pests of plants and facilitate safe trade.  It develops and publishes information material on phytosanitary issues, keeps records of plant imports and exports, the importers and exporters, as well as the pests and diseases of quarantine importance.

The PQD also implements marketing quality standards on fresh fruits and vegetables for export and operates the World Trade organization (WTO) Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Enquiry point. The division participates in International Standard-setting (ISPMs) to prevent pests spread and promote market access. It is also responsible for developing emergency preparedness and response for priority invasive pests. The Division works closely with the customs and other border agencies at all the official entry points.

Key Services provided:

• Exporters of agricultural produce: Inspection, certification (Phytosanitary and marketing quality compliance), treatment (confiscation and destruction), information on export requirements and training on export requirements.

• Importers of agricultural produce: Pest Risk Analysis, Inspection, authorization (import permits), enforcement of import conditions (release, treatment, confiscation and destruction, return to country of origin), information on import requirements; post-entry quarantine, training on import requirements.

• IPPC and WTO SPS agreements: Provides information on IPPC and WTO on SPS Agreements through the National Enquiry Point (NEP)
• Capacity building and stakeholder engagement: train inspectors, farmers, exporters and importers. Conduct awareness campaigns on pest risks and phytosanitary requirements.

For further information contact:

The Director

Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate

P. O. Box M 37

Pokuase-Accra

Tel: +233 (0) 303977526

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To become a highly professional and competent technical public institution dedicated to promoting quality information and to determine the appropriateness of technologies for dissemination to ensure sustainable development of the crop sub sector.

MISSION

To promote the production and facilitate the processing, distribution and marketing of food, industrial and export crops; quality planting materials and the efficient use and management of soil and water resources for sustainable agriculture production.

Read more: Directorate of Crop Services

Background

Animal Production Directorate (APD) is one of the Technical Directorates of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The Directorate has additional mandate to oversee operations of seven National Livestock Breeding Stations located in various parts of the country. 

Mission

To develop, promote and sustain poultry and livestock production for food security, employment creation and income generation through research, effective technical support, extension services, agro-business and industry, whilst ensuring that gender and environmental issues are adequately addressed. 

Vision

A well developed and efficient institution capable of formulating sound policies, providing effective technical support and promoting sustainable and profitable livestock and poultry industries for food security, nutritional adequacy and enhanced incomes. 

Read more: Animal Production