Poultry farmers commend government for directive on local chicken procurement

The Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers (GNAPF) has applauded the government for its directive requiring all schools to procure locally produced broiler chickens and eggs. 

The GNAPF said the policy announced by President John Mahama and reaffirmed in the 2026 Budget Statement presented by the Minister for Finance was a step in the right direction. 

In a statement issued and signed by its National Chairman, Mr George Dassah, and made available to the Ghana News Agency in Tamale, GNAPF said the directive marked a major milestone for the poultry industry, which had the potential to significantly reduce unemployment due to its extensive value chain. 

The statement said if well implemented, the policy would stimulate local production, create jobs, and strengthen the domestic poultry sector. 

It, however, called for urgent stakeholder engagements to discuss the modalities for implementation, emphasizing that collaboration would ensure that the policy achieved its fully intended impact. 

It expressed concern over the absence of compensation arrangements in the budget for poultry farmers who lost their birds during the outbreak of avian influenza in previous years. 

It explained that many farmers suffered substantial financial losses and appealed to the government to prioritise compensation for affected members. 

The statement said Ghana’s heavy reliance on imported frozen chicken estimated at more than US$300 million annually was draining foreign exchange and creating jobs in exporting countries such as the United States, Brazil, China, and those within the European Union. 

It said local poultry farmers continued to struggle to compete due to high production costs while foreign producers benefited from heavy subsidies.

It said transforming Ghana’s poultry sector was essential to economic growth and aligned with the government’s broader agenda of resetting the economy. 

It, therefore, proposed the development of a strategic policy direction to regulate and strengthen the sector. 

The statement emphasised the urgency of establishing a legal and policy framework to protect the long-term development of the poultry industry stating that “The time for legislation for the poultry sector is now.” 

It urged the government to extend the policy to other public institutions such as hospitals, prisons, and the military including Ghana’s peacekeeping missions. 

It reaffirmed GNAPF’s commitment to supporting national efforts aimed at developing a competitive and sustainable poultry industry. 

Source: GNA