The Chief Executive Officer of Denies Annointed Farms, Mr. Mends, has called on the government to provide low-interest loans, insurance, and targeted interventions to help reduce Ghana’s heavy reliance on frozen chicken imports.
According to him, the poultry sector is under significant pressure due to the rising cost of production inputs, particularly feed, which continues to affect local farmers’ ability to compete with imported products.
He explained that government support would not only ease the financial burden on poultry farmers but also strengthen local production and contribute to national food security.
Mr. Mends further urged authorities to intensify initiatives such as the “Nkoko Nketenkete” programme, which is aimed at boosting domestic poultry production and cutting down the country’s import bill.
Ghana currently imports over 600,000 tonnes of frozen chicken annually, accounting for between 95% and 98% of total chicken consumption in the country. These imports, largely from countries such as Brazil, the United States, and members of the European Union, cost the nation between $300 million and $600 million each year.
He noted that this heavy dependence on imports places a strain on the country’s foreign exchange reserves and limits job creation within the local poultry value chain.
Mr. Mends is therefore calling for urgent government intervention to reverse the trend and support the growth of the domestic poultry industry.
He also appealed to the government to establish poultry processing plants in all regions across Ghana, a move he believes will significantly increase local chicken production and create employment opportunities.
