EU, WACAAD Launch Ghana’s First National Beekeeping Conference to Boost Honey Exports.

The West Africa Centre for Agribusiness and Apiculture Development (WACAAD), with financial support from the European Union (EU), has hosted Ghana’s first-ever national beekeeping conference, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen the apiculture industry and position locally produced honey for regional and international markets.

The event, held under the Ghana Forum for Beekeeping and Biodiversity Initiative (GhaFBBI), is the first national platform dedicated to promoting sustainable beekeeping, improving honey production standards, and unlocking new export opportunities for Ghanaian honey producers.

A key objective of the initiative is to establish a credible and enforceable quality and safety framework for the country’s honey industry. Organizers say the framework will improve product traceability, strengthen quality assurance systems, and ensure Ghanaian honey meets the standards required to compete in global markets.

One of the major highlights of the conference was the official launch of “Ghana HiveHoney,” the country’s first Collective Mark for the beekeeping sector. The certification is designed to identify honey that is safely produced, fully traceable, and harvested using sustainable practices.

The Collective Mark is expected to play a vital role in developing export-ready honey value chains, promoting industry-wide quality standards, and increasing the competitiveness of Ghanaian honey in both regional and international markets.

Speaking at the event, European Union Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Mr. Rune Skinnebach, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to expanding trade with Ghana through initiatives that promote quality, sustainability, and market access.

“Although the European Union is already the world’s largest export market, we remain committed to deepening trade relations with Ghana. By supporting traceability and sustainable production, we are helping Ghanaian products, including honey, meet EU market standards. This creates new export opportunities, generates employment, and strengthens the country’s private sector,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer of WACAAD, Dr. John Kojo Ahiakpa, described the initiative as a major step toward transforming Ghana’s honey industry into a globally competitive sector.

“This initiative represents a significant milestone in our vision of seeing safe, traceable, and high-quality Ghanaian honey reaching consumers both locally and internationally. Working alongside the European Union and our partners, we are building a beekeeping industry founded on integrity, sustainability, and economic opportunity,” he stated.

The conference was organized in collaboration with several key government institutions, including the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Veterinary Services Directorate, the Animal Production Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), and the Forestry Commission.

Organizers believe the initiative will not only improve quality standards within Ghana’s apiculture sector but also create new income opportunities for beekeepers, support biodiversity conservation, and position Ghana as a competitive exporter of premium honey on the global market.