Ghana spends $350m yearly on poultry imports – Eric Opoku

By Prince Antwi July 17, 2026

Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku has disclosed that Ghana spends approximately US$350 million every year importing poultry products, stressing that the country must invest more in local production to reduce its dependence on foreign supplies.

Speaking on JoyNews during a discussion on The Future of Poultry Beyond the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Project on Friday, July 17, the minister said the enormous amount spent on poultry imports could be redirected into the local economy to create jobs and strengthen Ghana’s poultry industry.

According to him, the government’s Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative is designed to increase domestic poultry production, encourage the consumption of locally produced chicken and reduce the country’s reliance on imported poultry products.

Mr Opoku lamented that Ghana’s continued dependence on imported chicken is creating employment opportunities in other countries while denying many Ghanaians, particularly young people, opportunities within the local poultry value chain.

“As we speak, on an annual basis, we spend 350 million United States dollars to import poultry products into Ghana. That huge amount of money is creating jobs in those countries at the expense and peril of the youth of our nation,” he said.

The minister explained that the Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme forms part of the government’s broader strategy to revitalise the poultry sector by increasing production, promoting value addition and generating employment across the industry.

He revealed that while the first phase of the initiative focused on supporting households with poultry production, the next phase will target medium-scale poultry farmers to help them expand their operations.

“Some of them are able to do from 500 birds to about 3,000 birds. They need the capacity to expand, and it is the duty of government, as we pursue increased production, to give them that support to enable them expand,” he stated.

Mr Opoku emphasised that strengthening local poultry production and encouraging consumers to patronise locally produced chicken are essential steps toward reducing imports, improving food security and building a competitive poultry industry.

He added that sustained investment in local producers will not only reduce the country’s import bill but also create jobs and stimulate economic growth throughout Ghana’s poultry value chain.