Ghana EXIM Bank launches strategy to cut poultry imports, support local production
Targeted financing and partnerships aim to increase local production and improve market access.
GHANA – Ghana EXIM Bank has announced a strategy to reduce the country’s dependence on imported poultry and rice, aiming to ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves and support domestic agriculture.
The Bank’s management explained that the initiative follows an internal review of its financial and operational performance, which revealed weak loan recovery, governance gaps, and limited alignment with national development priorities.
A large share of the Bank’s lending had been tied up in non-performing loans, restricting its capacity to fund productive sectors, prompting a reform process to enhance risk management and ensure loans contribute directly to the economy.
The new approach prioritizes the poultry industry, which has faced competition from cheaper imports due to high production costs, limited financing options, and underdeveloped value chains.
Ghana EXIM Bank plans to provide targeted funding to local poultry farms, feed producers, hatcheries, and processing plants to increase production capacity and efficiency along the supply chain.
As part of its medium-term plan, the Bank will finance modern equipment, improved breeds, cost-effective feed solutions, cold storage, and processing facilities to help producers meet local demand and improve product standards.
Financing under the new model will be tied to specific production milestones, ensuring funds are released only as progress is demonstrated, a move designed to reduce misuse, lower defaults, and improve accountability.
The Bank has also strengthened its credit appraisal procedures and internal controls to better protect public funds and ensure lending supports measurable economic outcomes.
In addition to loans, Ghana EXIM Bank is facilitating partnerships among farmers, processors, and buyers to create more consistent poultry supply chains and improve market access for small and medium-scale producers.
These efforts are expected to generate employment, increase rural incomes, and stimulate activity across the wider agricultural sector while helping the country reduce the US$420 million annual poultry import bill.
The Bank’s strategy aligns with government goals on industrialisation and import substitution and aims to leverage opportunities from regional trade agreements under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Officials indicate that by strengthening local production, Ghana could not only meet domestic demand but also explore future exports of processed poultry products to neighbouring markets.
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