Mr. Ralph Ayitey, the National Treasurer of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has appealed for strategic interventions to revitalize Ghana’s poultry sector.
Speaking at the official launch of the 5th Ghana Poultry Day Festival, in Accra, Mr. Ayitey ,emphasized the urgent need for sustainable solutions to reduce Ghana’s dependency on imported poultry and to transform the sector into a viable driver of national development.
He noted that Ghana currently imports over 300,000 metric tonnes of chicken annually equivalent to nearly 600,000 birds consumed every single day—yet only five percent of this demand is met by local producers. This, he described, as an alarming imbalance that hinders the growth of the domestic poultry industry and poses risks to food sovereignty and economic resilience.
To address these challenges, Mr. Ayitey proposed the adoption of out-grower partnership models, where large-scale processors support smallholder poultry farmers by providing inputs, veterinary services, technical support, and guaranteed markets. He explained that such arrangements would help build consistency in production, reduce risks for farmers, and ensure stable supply chains.
He further stressed that changing perceptions about poultry farming was key to encouraging youth participation. By presenting poultry as a profitable and purpose-driven enterprise, he believes a new generation of job creators can be inspired people who see agriculture not as a fallback but as a forward-looking business opportunity.
Mr. Ayitey called on government to strengthen policy support by creating enabling conditions that attract and sustain investment in the sector.
He proposed targeted tax incentives for local producers, the provision of affordable financing mechanisms for farm expansion, and investments in cold chain infrastructure to ensure poultry products remain fresh from farm to fork.
He also highlighted the need for stronger enforcement of regulations to stop the influx of poor-quality poultry imports, which continue to undermine local producers and compromise public health.
He reiterated that the future of Ghana’s poultry industry depended on a coordinated national effort, involving government, private sector actors, farmers, development partners, and consumers.
He encouraged stakeholders to support every aspect of the poultry value chain—from hatcheries and feed production to processing, distribution, and marketing.
According to him, when the local poultry sector thrives, the nation stands to benefit through improved food security, job creation, economic diversification, better health outcomes, and the promotion of agri-tourism.
He however ,commended Agrihouse Foundation ,for the excellent job they are doing to help improve the countries poultry sector ,he added that the NGO, has not only celebrated the poultry sector but have also strategically positioned it as a key tool for job creation ,food security ,innovation and agri-tourism .
The Ghana Poultry Day Festival, spearheaded by Agrihouse Foundation, is themed “Investing in the Local Poultry Sector: A Means to Creating Jobs, Promoting Agri-Tourism, and Improving Food Security.” The festival, now in its fifth year, continues to celebrate and promote locally produced poultry while engaging the public through cooking competitions, exhibitions, policy dialogues, and cultural showcases.
This year’s celebration, scheduled for July 1, 2025, will bring together poultry farmers, agribusiness stakeholders, nutritionists, students, chefs, investors, and policymakers to explore actionable strategies for building a self-reliant and sustainable poultry industry in Ghana.
