FAO Supports Ghana to Strengthen Veterinary Regulation and Professional Standards

Ghana has taken a significant step toward strengthening animal health governance and safeguarding public health with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to advance critical reforms in veterinary regulation and professional standards.

Through a structured consultative process led by the Veterinary Council of Ghana (VCG), FAO is supporting key legal and institutional reforms aimed at building a competent, accountable, and well-regulated veterinary workforce.

“Strengthening this law is essential for safeguarding the quality and integrity of veterinary practice in Ghana, and FAO’s support has helped us move significantly closer to finalising an amended and enforceable legal framework that will strengthen regulation and oversight,” said Mr. Kingsley Aryee, Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Ghana.

“Strong veterinary regulation is essential for animal health, food safety, and public health, we at FAO remain committed to supporting the Government of Ghana to strengthen regulatory systems, improve workforce competencies, and build a more resilient and integrated One Health architecture”, said Garba Ahmed, Country Team Lead for the FAO Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Disease, on behalf of the FAO Country Representative.

“This mandatory Continuous Professional Development (CPD) system for veterinarians will elevate the competence of veterinarians, strengthen One Health collaboration, and ultimately improve disease prevention and control in Ghana,” said Dr Sherry Johnson, Chair of the Veterinary Council of Ghana.

The four-day consultation workshop brought together legal experts, the Veterinary Council, the Veterinary Services Directorate, professional associations, academic institutions, and FAO to advance reforms in veterinary regulation and professional standards.

The workshop addressed outstanding issues on the Amended Veterinary Surgeon’s Law (PNDC Law 305C) and finalized frameworks, guidelines, and SOPs for a mandatory Continuous Professional Development (CPD) system and requirements for animal health practice, strengthening accountability and ensuring veterinarians continuously update their knowledge and skills to uphold high professional standards.

The workshop marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s ongoing efforts to strengthen veterinary governance and enhance its national capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to emerging animal and public health threats.