Farmers across the Upper East Region (UER) are facing severe challenges as agricultural livelihoods come under increasing strain due to the combined effects of illegal donkey slaughter and worsening climate change.
The illicit trade in donkey hides, largely driven by demand from Chinese buyers for Ejiao—a traditional Chinese medicinal product—has escalated over recent years. Donkeys, vital for ploughing fields, transporting goods, and supporting rural labour, have become increasingly scarce, forcing some farmers to cultivate smaller acreages due to the lack of working animals or the high cost of tractor services.
Local reports indicate that between 150 and 200 donkeys were slaughtered daily in some communities from 2021 to 2024 to meet foreign demand. Statistics from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture show that Ghana’s donkey population in the region declined sharply from an estimated 13 million in the early 1980s to about 14,000 in 2024.
The Upper East Regional Director of Agriculture, Alhaji Fuseini Zakaria, described the situation as an “existential threat” to rural livelihoods. He noted that mechanised farming remains limited in the region, making donkeys indispensable for smallholder farmers.
Alhaji Zakaria revealed that Chinese buyers initially operated from Walewale in the North East Region, contracting local farmers to supply donkeys. A joint operation by the Department of Agriculture and security agencies forced the buyers out of that area, though they have since moved activities to Kumasi.
“This has reduced the cultivation of indigenous crops like early and late millet,” he warned, stressing that the economic impact would worsen if the trend continued. Municipal and district authorities cited enforcement challenges, weak border controls, and the absence of a national ban on donkey hide exportation as barriers to curbing the trade.
The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Roland Atanga Ayoo, said the Assembly plans to introduce by-laws to restrict mass donkey slaughter. Some farmers blame porous borders with Burkina Faso and Togo for the persistence of cross-border smuggling.
Farmers report drastic reductions in farm sizes due to the shortage of donkeys. Ignatius Gbambil Apol, a farmer and teacher in Zua, Nabdam District, reduced his farmland from four acres to one in the 2025 planting season. Mrs Assibi Kolog, a millet farmer in Damolgo, revealed that many women farmers dependent on donkeys for cultivation have migrated south in search of alternative work.
Climate change has compounded the crisis, with prolonged dry spells, soil infertility, and erratic rainfall making farming increasingly unpredictable. Agricultural scientist Professor Roger Kanton, National Programme Officer for the Fight Against Donkey Extinction (FADE), warned that the loss of donkeys could lead farmers to abandon traditional crops, deepening rural poverty.
Despite bans on donkey killing by the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and the European Union (EU), Ghana has yet to enforce a strong national policy. Advocacy groups are calling for urgent measures, including tighter border controls, conservation initiatives, and climate adaptation programmes to safeguard livelihoods and ensure food security in the Upper East Region.
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