Ghana launches poultry sector masterplan to drive jobs and cut imports

Ghana – Ghana, West Africa’s largest poultry meat market, is moving to reduce its heavy reliance on imports and rebuild a sector that has been in decline for decades. 

With nearly 80% of the country’s chicken sourced from abroad, the Ministry of Agriculture has unveiled a master plan to restore local production and strengthen the poultry value chain.

On February 9, the Ministry of Agriculture announced the development of a poultry sector master plan in collaboration with Agri-Impact Limited and the Mastercard Foundation.

The stakeholders are part of the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) programme, which aims to create employment opportunities for youth, especially young women and persons with disabilities, boost food production, and reduce the country’s reliance on imported poultry products.

The roadmap

The plan, expected to be finalised in 2026, will serve as a roadmap to boost production, enhance competitiveness, reduce reliance on imports, and attract both public and private investment across the poultry value chain.

Agribusiness specialist Abraham Sarfo of Agri-Impact Limited stressed the need for innovation.

“We still need much more investment. Data show that we have likely not tapped even 30% of the country’s investment potential. The industry must be driven by technology and innovation. How do we apply innovation and technology to farm management? Remote sensing, disease detection… These tools allow farms to be monitored remotely.”

The Business Development and Research Manager at Agri-Impact Limited, Prince Manu Yeboah, said the ‘HAPPY’ Programme has recorded remarkable achievements since its inception in 2023.

“We have produced 4.6 million birds, all reaching the market—about 7,500 metric tons worth $25 million. Success now depends on targeted investment in breeders and hatcheries, stronger institutions, and youth inclusion, driven by data and technology, to secure the poultry sector’s future,” Mr Yeboah explained.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Ghana’s poultry industry supplied up to 80% of domestic demand. Today, production has fallen sharply. USDA figures show that in 2023, Ghana produced just 60,000 tons of chicken meat, only 18% of the 330,000 tons consumed.

Industry players cite high feed costs, limited hatcheries, and inadequate cold chain facilities as key barriers. Without intervention, analysts warn that Ghana risks deepening its dependence on imports, leaving local farmers unable to compete.

The master plan and accompanying initiatives, including the recently launched “Poultry Farm to the Table Programme” in February 2025, promise affordable credit, lower feed costs, improved broiler breeds, and farmer training.

New infrastructure project

Alongside the master plan, the minister has recently commissioned state‑of‑the‑art cold storage and processing facilities in a Poultry Processing Complex in Kpone Municipality, designed to provide farmers with market access, strengthen value addition, and move Ghana closer to poultry self‑sufficiency.

These projects are designed to provide farmers with a structured marketplace, strengthen value addition, and move Ghana closer to poultry self-sufficiency.

Opoku underscored the alignment of these efforts with the government’s “Feed Ghana Programme”, which seeks to reduce the economic burden of poultry imports while boosting industrial development and job creation. 

He expressed gratitude to international partners, including the German Ambassador, Beacon Source and Service Limited, and Bostex Trading GmbH, and urged broader collaboration.

“The successful implementation of this economic strategy relies on robust infrastructure, adequate capital, advanced technology, and strong governmental cooperation.”

If Ghana’s master plan and infrastructure projects succeed, the country could reclaim its position as a regional leader in poultry production.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.