Stakeholders in Ghana’s poultry sector are urging stronger policy interventions to protect local producers, warning that the steady influx of low-priced imported chicken is weakening domestic competitiveness and discouraging investment in the industry.
Industry players say imported poultry products continue to dominate the market due to price advantages, making it increasingly difficult for local farmers to expand production, improve profitability, and create sustainable jobs.
The concerns are expected to feature prominently ahead of the sixth Ghana Poultry Day, where stakeholders will gather to deliberate on strategies to strengthen the poultry value chain and enhance its contribution to national food security and economic growth.
Executive Director and Founder of Agrihouse Foundation, Ms. Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, said the imbalance in the market requires urgent policy attention to ensure fair competition between local and imported products.
She noted that while demand for chicken remains high across the country, consumers are often driven by price considerations, which places domestic producers at a disadvantage.
According to her, imported chicken benefits from economies of scale, established global supply chains and in some cases subsidies, allowing it to enter the Ghanaian market at lower prices than locally produced alternatives.
Ms. Akosa cautioned that without targeted interventions, Ghana’s poultry industry risks stagnation despite its strong potential to contribute significantly to employment, food security and economic growth.
She called for stricter enforcement of market regulations, increased support for local farmers, and policies that prioritise local procurement within public institutions.
She also advocated public education campaigns to encourage consumers to choose locally produced chicken as a way of strengthening domestic production.
Ms. Akosa further argued that addressing distortions in the poultry market would help improve farmers’ incomes, stimulate rural employment, reduce reliance on imports and strengthen Ghana’s overall food security system.
On the part of government, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr. John Setor Dumelo, acknowledged the concerns raised by industry stakeholders, noting that measures are underway to boost local poultry production and reduce import dependency.
He said ongoing policy interventions are focused on increasing domestic supply, supporting commercial poultry farmers and stabilising prices to make locally produced chicken more competitive.
Mr. Dumelo added that efforts to expand production capacity within the local poultry sector are expected to gradually reduce reliance on imported chicken while improving availability for consumers nationwide.
