Ghana plans tenfold increase in poultry production to cut import reliance
Government and stakeholders are developing a Poultry Sector Master Plan to guide the industry.
GHANA – Ghana aims to expand domestic poultry production ten times current levels to satisfy national consumption and reduce reliance on frozen chicken imports, which supply up to 95% of the market.
The recommendation emerged during consultations held on February 9, 2026, by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) Animal Production Directorate as part of efforts to draft a comprehensive Poultry Sector Master Plan.
Abraham Sarfo, Agribusiness and Value Chain Specialist at Agri Impact Limited, said current production remains well below national demand, estimated at 300,000-460,000 metric tonnes per year.
He added that domestic output must increase tenfold to close the gap and gradually replace imported poultry, which currently dominates the market.
Heavy reliance on imports has highlighted weaknesses in Ghana’s poultry value chain, including gaps in production systems, feed supply, processing facilities, and distribution networks.
The master plan is designed to address these structural issues and create a roadmap for sustainable domestic production.
Consultations were conducted under the Mastercard Foundation’s Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) Programme, involving stakeholders from the Northern Sector, Middle Belt, and Southern Sector to validate data and identify production constraints.
MoFA engaged a consultant in partnership with Agri Impact Limited and the HAPPY Programme to formulate the master plan, which is expected to attract investment and generate employment for young people, women, and persons with disabilities.
Sarfo noted that investments in the broiler industry, including new feed mills, improved formulations, and processing plants, have increased gradually, but called for greater focus on technology and innovation to enable larger-scale production.
He also recognized the Ghana EXIM Bank’s focus on poultry, rice, garments, and textiles as priority sectors for investment, while urging more coordinated industry associations to support research and policy engagement.
Prince Manu Yeboah, Business Development and Research Manager at Agri Impact, said the HAPPY Programme produced 4.6 million poultry birds between December 2023 and December 2025, generating around US$25.2 million and creating about 8,000 jobs.
Broiler meat production under the programme reached approximately 7,500 metric tonnes, highlighting the economic potential of targeted investments across the poultry value chain.
Dennis Owusu Adjei, MoFA Deputy Director for Breeding, said stakeholder contributions would be crucial for developing a practical master plan to expand local poultry production and increase consumer trust in domestic products.
The master plan aims to provide a data-driven guide to reduce imports, improve competitiveness, support job creation, and direct both public and private investment in the sector.
Despite government initiatives over the past decade, Ghana’s poultry imports remain between 80 and 95% of total consumption, representing a persistent drain on foreign exchange and lost opportunities for local employment.
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