An economist, Kwasi Nyame Baafi, has cautioned that certain economic policies could undermine efforts to revive Ghana’s local poultry industry despite government initiatives aimed at boosting domestic production.
Dr Baafi, who is also the Deputy Director of Research of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said while the government’s flagship poultry programme—Nkoko Nketenkete initiative—was a commendable step, other policy choices might counteract its intended benefits.
The programme, launched in 2025 by President John Dramani Mahama, seeks to revitalise the poultry sector by distributing three million birds to farmers. The initiative is designed not only to create jobs but also to reduce the country’s reliance on imported frozen chicken.
However, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Dr Baafi argued that exchange rate policies that strengthen the Ghana cedi could inadvertently make imported frozen chicken cheaper than locally produced poultry.
According to him, such a situation could discourage local producers and weaken the competitiveness of the domestic poultry industry.
“The price of imported frozen chicken is now much cheaper because of the over-artificial appreciation of the Ghana cedi,” he said.
Dr Baafi questioned the consistency of government policies, arguing that promoting local poultry production while maintaining conditions that favour imports could undermine the success of the revitalisation programme.
He warned that if the current economic approach persists, it could slow the growth of the sector and affect the long-term viability of the initiative aimed at expanding local poultry production in Ghana.
