Ghanaian businessman owes Meatco N$300 000 in beef deal

A Ghanaian businessman who helped open the West African market to beef from Namibia's northern communal areas (NCAs) still owes the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) N$300 000 for products delivered under a landmark export arrangement launched more than four years ago.The outstanding balance stems from a commercial agreement signed in 2021 between Meatco and Abanga Foods Group, a company owned by Ghanaian businessman Thomas Abanga. The deal was hailed as one of the first major agricultural trade initiatives linking Namibia and Ghana under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).The trade agreement was particularly significant because it created an export market for beef sourced from cattle north of the veterinary cordon fence, commonly known as the red line.Meatco interim chief executive officer Albertus Aochamub confirmed to Namibian Sun that Abanga still owes the corporation."He owes N$300 000," Aochamub confirmed, adding that the amount represents an outstanding balance."Products supplied by Meatco were for distributing in the Ghanaian market. It is the balance outstanding from a much larger order that the client is attending to," he said.New landscape The commercial relationship dates back to August 2021, when Abanga paid a courtesy call on then deputy prime minister and minister of international relations and cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, during a visit to Namibia to explore business opportunities.During the visit, Abanga and former Meatco chief executive Mwilima Mushokabanji signed a cooperation agreement to export Namibian beef to Ghana.The following year, Namibia's then high commissioner to Ghana, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, joined Ghanaian officials at the Port of Tema to receive the first 15-tonne consignment of Namibian beef.The initiative was celebrated as an important milestone in strengthening trade between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) while demonstrating the commercial opportunities presented by the AfCFTA.It also marked an important breakthrough for producers in Namibia's NCA by creating an export outlet for beef sourced north of the red line.Business as usualAochamub said Meatco's relationship with Abanga was strictly commercial.He explained that the corporation entered into a standard purchase and supply agreement with Abanga Foods Group on 31 August 2021 for a 24-month term."The contract was fully implemented and ran its full course," Aochamub said.Despite the outstanding balance, Meatco says it remains confident the debt will be settled."The client has outstanding invoices that are being settled under terms agreed with the client. We are confident that the Abanga Food Group will honour all their obligations," he said.Aochamub declined to disclose details of the repayment arrangement or indicate when the balance is expected to be fully settled.No agricultural ties Beyond the beef export arrangement, Abanga publicly promoted several ambitious agricultural development plans for Namibia.These included proposals for agro-mechanisation centres in several regions, a fertiliser manufacturing plant expected to create around 400 jobs, expanded grain milling operations and large-scale mechanised farming systems.Abanga was also at one point expected to serve as a consultant on projects under the Namibian Social Investment Platform (NAMSIP), an initiative supported by the African Development Bank aimed at improving food security, rural incomes, and agricultural productivity.However, according to senior government sources, the consultancy role never materialised."Aside from his commercial arrangement with Meatco, this appears to have been the closest he came to formal collaboration with Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture," a government source said.The agriculture ministry has since distanced itself from Abanga and projects associated with him.In February this year, the ministry's senior public relations officer, Simon Nghipandulwa, told Namibian Sun: "The ministry has not entered into, approved, or signed any contract, memorandum of agreement, or other formal arrangement with Mr Thomas Abanga or any company associated with him, nor has it approved or committed to any agricultural or agro-processing projects linked to him."He added that no monetary transactions, investments, funding, guarantees or state commitments had ever been authorised or processed by the ministry in relation to Abanga or his entities.Recent online reports in Sierra Leone have alleged that Abanga is involved in unrelated agricultural ventures in the country.The allegations have not been tested in court and could not be independently verified by Namibian Sun.

Ghanaian businessman owes Meatco N$300 000 in beef deal

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Namibian Sun 2026-07-17

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Ghanaian businessman owes Meatco N$300 000 in beef deal

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Namibian Sun 2026-07-17

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